Amaechi lied no structure on ground - Report

dimeji akinloye

January 21, 2016 7:18 PM

The Minister had told the Senate Committee on Marine Transport there it would amount to a misplaced priority if the FG goes head with building the University.

Rotimi Amaechi

Contrary to the claim by the Minister of Transportation and Aviation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, that,only feasibility study is in place at the Nigerian Maritime University, a report, with photo 'proof', argues that there are ongoing construction works at the proposed institution's site in Delta State.

The Minister had told the Senate Committee on Marine Transport that it would amount to a waste of funds if the Federal Government goes head with building the proposed institution, pushing for the project to be discontinued.

Amaechi had said:“We are not going ahead with the university project proposed by NIMASA because we have a institution in Oron, we have Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, and we have the Nigerian College of Aviation in Zaria which we could upgrade to a university status and NIMASA is proposing to build a new one.

“Who will attend the university? How many parents will allow their children to go to such place where it proposes to site the university? What is the aim of the university that we cannot achieve in Oron where they have all the necessary infrastructure?

He also alleged that an unidentified man, believed to be Government 'Tompolo' Ekpemupolo,collected N32 billion for the purpose of the projectand left the country.

READ: Amaechi says FG might scrap NIMASA

However, according a new report, work is ongoing at the University site, with picture 'evidence' showing heavy duty equipment on the site.

The report said: "The minister while trying to justify the Federal Government's decision to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University told the Senate Committee on Marine Transport that there was no work on the Permanent site of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta state and insisted that what was on ground was "just the feasibility study".

"Photographic evidence gathered by our correspondent who visited the site of the Maritime University, contractors were seen on working on site with heavy duty equipment, while buildings were captured at various phases of construction contrary to Mr. Amaechi's claims.

"The temporary site of the Maritime University in Kurutie, Warri South-West of Delta state was equipped with necessary structures and facilities and was set to admit students into the 2016 Academic year pending the completion of structures at the permanent site."

According to the report, a resident of the University community said there is no truth in Amaechi's claims, adding that the contractors working on the site were being arrested while working.

"Other residents remarked that in spite of the difficult terrain of the area where it is difficult to get sand, the contractors remained on site and dismissed the Ministers comment as uncharitable and sending a wrong signal", it said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on the 10th of May, 2014, declared the site open in a ground breaking ceremony, while the Federal Executive Council approved the decision for the school to take off in 2015.

However, independent investigations by Pulse to ascertain the state of the University site proved abortive, as a resident of the community where the University is located promised to get back to us with picture confirmation after visiting the site. But failed to do so as at press time.

Update later.

dimeji akinloye