Amaechi accuses Obasanjo government of mismanaging €400m maritime equipment

Chinazor Megbolu

The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has accused the administration of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of mismanaging between €300 million and €400 million on equipment for fighting insecurity in the maritime sector.

The minister said this at the inauguration of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure in Nigeria known as the Deep Blue Project in Lagos, alleging the equipment purchased is nowhere to be found.

Amaechi also accused the elitists in the country of operating in the maritime sector of unpatriotic acts.

He further explained that a war was waged against him during the implementation of the project by stakeholders in the industry, but that he was determined to complete the task.

According to him; “just because of this project, three committees were set up against me; one led by the Vice-President, one by the Minister of Defence and another by the EFCC.

“While they were set up and all of them were cabinet committees; the accusation was this is Amaechi’s contract. Mr. President, I don’t do contract.

“But I want to tell you why I did it. Nigerians are not patriotic, most elites are not. They were making billions of money in insecurity. Anybody who wants to fight insecurity, they will fight the person and I was very determined.

“I am surprised that the MD of Shell read his speech without saying that the oil companies met and promised me a gift if I can survive in this war. This war has sacked two ministers, they were taken to the EFCC and they were sacked.

“This war, under President Obasanjo; they spent between €300 million and €400 million to buy the same equipment we have bought and they have disappeared.

“Until the day you sack me or I leave office, I will make sure that this equipment remain because Nigerians who do business on the water are not good people. Most unpatriotic Nigerians are not good.”