Report: Amaechi Lied That Maritime University Is Only At 'Feasibility Study' Phase
Proof has emerged that the Minister of Transportation and Aviation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi lied concerning the Nigerian Maritime University.
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".
Amaechi said; “Whoever that is holding on to the money should better return it. The Chinese company contracted, confirmed that only the feasibility study was in place.”
According to 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.
According to our correspondent, 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.
A resident of the community who spoke to our correspondent said that there was no truth to claims by Mr. Amaechi as work was ongoing, he said that the contractors were being arrested while working on the site.
Other residents groaned that the Government was sending a wrong signal to the community as that is what they got from having a Niger Deltan as President. They 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.
The ground breaking ceremony was performed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on the 10th of May, 2014 while the Federal Executive Council approved the decision for the school to take off in 2015.