Business

Amaechi: The Govt House Correspondent’s Perspective

Published

10 years ago

May 27, 2014

The mere mention of
the name Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi sparks different images in the minds of Rivers people and Nigerians in general. A vibrant, bold and fearless man, Amaechi is a shrewd but blunt politician, who combines activism with governance.
Often times, the amiable governor has said that he wants to demystify governance. He frowns at every bit of protocol and bureaucracy. He views simplicity as a far side of complexity. But the more one seeks to study the simplicity that surrounds him, the more one is confounded by his altruistic nature.
Naturally, the governor is blunt, straight-forward and open to a fault. It is these attributes that imbue him with some element of mystery. He confounds his political opponents and thinks ahead of them, an attribute that has made him survive the treacherous Nigerian political landscape.
Rt Hon Amaechi has, over the years, learnt the political rope fast and adeptly. One phoney aspect of his political journey is that the governor has always leaned to the left. He is a tough Marxist who believes governance should serve the general good of society based on a welfarist policy of free education, health and provision of employment.
For instance, at a time when majority of Rivers men and women were tilted to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the governor was in the National Republican Convention (NRC).His minority stand later paid off, when Dr Peter Odili became deputy governor and he was appointed a Special Assistant on Student Matters. He later joined the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) along with his political mentor, Odili who was then angling for the governorship of the state.
As if nature was ever smiling to him, Dr. Odili won the governorship in 1999 and Amaechi again trounced his opponents and later emerged as the first Ikwerre man to become the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. Eight years later, he became the first Ikwerre man to become governor of the state. A man of many firsts that is! And now, the governor has joined other progressives in the All Progressives Congress (APC), considered to be a leftist party.
Recently, he told traditional rulers who visited him under the banner of Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers Council that though his kinsmen had considered him a sell-out and working against the Ikwerre interest at that time, now it has paid off.
Amaechi began to nurture a socialist prism which was honed by Marxist university academics like late Prof Claude Ake, Prof Ndemili, Nkem Okoh and others at the University of Port Harcourt where he studied English and Literary Studies. He saw the university environment as a preparatory ground to launch into full time politics to pursue his quest for an egalitarian society. He became a student activist, first as a member of the Students Coalition Against Apartheid in South Africa and later President of National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS). It was the presidency of NURSS that actually exposed him to actual political currents.
Whatever prism one views the chief executive of Rivers State, one thing is glaringly true of him: he is not a pretender and he embodies simplicity.
Two weeks ago , the young and vibrant governor drove off without any security detail in the early morning of Friday, 16th May, 2014 to go and buy fruits at the Fruit Garden Market in D-Line, Port Harcourt. On reaching there, he was nearly mobbed by women who were excited by the rare opportunity of engaging in business transaction with the governor.
Later same day, while playing host to women politicians of the APC, he explained why he took the action. “ I had told the kitchen to buy me fruits and vegetables because I was told by my doctor friend that if I take fruits and vegetables morning and evening without eating anything, this stomach will go down. So when I told them to buy me fruits and vegetables for three weeks, they did nothing. So, this morning, I asked for fruits and vegetables and nobody gave me anything.
“ A week ago, I had talked to my wife and said you are not the wife of the governor, you are the wife of Amaechi, can you buy me fruits and vegetables? She said no problem, I will buy for you. But this morning, there were no fruits and vegetables and without her knowing, I went to the fruits market. So I have bought fruits and vegetables for myself. If they don’t want to wash it, I will wash it myself because at the end of the day, first and foremost, the governor is a human being”, Amaechi stated.
That indeed is Rt. Hon Amaechi; blunt, active and ‘response-able’. Unlike most governors, he inspects projects, points out specifications and chides contractors who fail to meet expectations. During one of the inspection tours to Artillery, he ordered a contractor to pull down the drains and start afresh. He also arrested a top politician along Aba Road for traffic offence. He, on several occasions, stops his convoy and controls traffic. He also drives himself. A great enigma indeed!

Business

NOSDRA Targets Improvement On Oil Sector Environmental Regulations

Published

2 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency has vowed to improve environmental regulations in the petroleum sector by accelerating memoranda of understanding with industry operators, ensuring they align with international standards.
NOSDRA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, disclosed this in Abuja while playing host to members of the Clean Nigeria Associates Board of Directors, according to a statement from the agency recently.
According to the statement, the visit underscored the agency’s collaboration with industry stakeholders to bolster environmental safety in oil spill detection and response.
Woke expressed gratitude for the CNA’s congratulatory message following his appointment and acknowledged the association’s recognition of NOSDRA’s regulatory role.
He assured CNA that the agency will prioritise their requests and expedite the MOU process to ensure that petroleum companies operate in compliance with global environmental standards.
CNA’s Chairman, Dr. Adeshina Sadiq, who also serves as the General Manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Seplat Energy, conveyed the association’s congratulations to Woke.
He stated the CNA’s desire to deepen collaboration with NOSDRA and move the MOU beyond paperwork to practical implementation.
Sadiq also proposed that NOSDRA expand CNA’s role in the biennial Global Initiative for West, Central, and Southern Africa summit, advocating for broader regional participation in oil spill response efforts, including in the Gulf of Guinea.
He called for the inclusion of a CNA board member and an executive in future summits to enhance their engagement.
While expressing the association’s quest for regional positioning by collaborating in oil spill response beyond the shores of Nigeria, including the Gulf of Guinea, Sadiq, according to the statement, urged “NOSDRA to expand the representation of CNA’s participation in the biennial GI-WACAF summit to include a board member of the association and another from its executive”.

Business

Customs, Rep Collaborate On Economic Growth, Security

Published

2 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Industrial Area Command, is set to collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen security, foster economic growth and build a brighter future for the Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
When the member representing the constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon.George Olawande, paid her a courtesy visit, the customs area controller, Odeworitse Rebecca, said the command will collaborate with the constituency in accordance with the comptroller-general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi’s policy thrust.
According to Odeworitse, the command is working diligently to facilitate trade, generate revenue, and identify new factories for excise control.
“The command is responsible for supervising, collecting, and accounting for excise duty from factories producing excisable goods. We work diligently to facilitate trade, generate revenue, and identify new factories for excise control. Therefore, all corporate social responsibilities (CSR) regarding community development are forwarded to the headquarters for approval of the CGC.
“The Lagos Industrial Area Command’s doors are opened and fully prepared to collaborate with our stakeholders to strengthen security, foster economic growth and build a brighter future for the constituency in accordance with the CGC’s policy thrust.
“Close collaboration between stakeholders and security agencies is essential for sustainable development”.
However, the CAC said in accordance with the World Customs Organization (WCO) theme for 2024 International Customs Day (ICD) celebration ‘Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose’, further stated that, the Lagos Industrial Area Command shares in the constituency’s belief and dedication to the community.
She further called for closer collaboration and continued partnership in ensuring the effective and efficient operations of the Service in Festac Town.
Speaking earlier, Hon.Olawande said he was on a collaboration tour to security agencies within the constituency towards community development of the constituency.

Business

FG, Russian Consortium Sign Agreement On Ajaokuta Steel Plant Rehabilitation

Published

2 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with a Russian Consortium Company for the rehabilitation, completion and operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and National Iron Ore Mining Company in Kogi State.
The Head, Press and Public Relations Department, Ministry of Steel Development, Salamatu Jibaniya, disclosed this in a statement recently.
According to the statement, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, when he led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia, on a working visit.
According to the statement, “The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, who led a Nigerian delegation to Moscow, Russia from 14th – 21st September 2024, on a working visit, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant Messrs, Tyazhpromexport (TPE) and members of their consortium namely; Novostal M and Proforce Manufacturing Limited for the Rehabilitation, Completion and Operation of Ajaokuta Steel Plant (ASP) and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Kogi State, Nigeria”.
It explained that the call was accepted by the Russian Federation when a consortium led by Messrs TPE visited the steel plant in Ajaokuta and the iron ore mining site at Itakpe in August 2024 for preliminary inspections leading to the invitation for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Audu said this is a bold step towards creating a sustainable base for the industrialisation of the Nigerian economy, noting that the revival of the steel sector will also reduce the importation of steel products into Nigeria, which is estimated at over $4 billion annually and will help save scarce foreign exchange.
The statement further said during the visit, the Nigerian delegation met with the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Alexey Gruzdev, and the consortium, led by TPE, assured the Nigerian delegation of the readiness of the consortium to meet the expectations of the MoU with the Nigerian government.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, Chris Isokpunwu, affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian government to revamp the Ajaokuta steel project and national iron ore mining company.
The President of Metallurgical Holding, “Novostal – M”, Demchenko Ivan Ivanovich, assured the delegation of their readiness to submit a detailed proposal for the project after the comprehensive audit of the plant.
The General Director of Messrs TPE, Egorov Sergei Anatolevich, and the Group Managing Director of Proforce Manufacturing Limited, Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, assured the Nigerian delegation of their commitment to the project because of its critical role in the overall economic development of Nigeria and requested the provision of an enabling environment by the Nigerian government.
“The parties expressed their optimism that the full implementation of the MoU will facilitate the revival of both Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron Ore Mining Company and could create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians and increase the size of the economy by billions of dollars thus contributing immensely to President Tinubu’s desire to grow the economy to over $1trillion by 2030″, the statement continued.
The steel company, located in Kogi State, was built between 1979 and functioned up till the mid-1990s, but it has become moribund.
In September 2022, the Nigerian government agreed to pay $496 million to settle an Indian firm’s claim over the facility.
The dispute followed the Federal Government’s revocation in 2008 of an agreement that handed control of the steelworks and the National Iron Ore Mining Company to the Indian firm.
In cancelling the deal, the Umar Yar’adua administration said the terms of the concession at the time were not favourable to the country.