Famous politician and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi is one who has never seized being a force to reckon with in the polity, whether as a two-term governor, a serving minister of the federal republic or as a chieftain of the ruling party, APC.
Amaechi has been a man known for hitting the ground running, each time an assignment is committed into his hands. This has proven him as an astute servant of the public.
Till date, the achievements of this creditable leader in Rivers State has been proclaimed unequal, which has acquitted him as the best Governor Rivers has ever had.
He served in oil-rich Rivers State as Governor from 2007 to 2015 and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.
Amaechi refurbished the Port-harcourt Int’l Airport, that had been in a deplorable state such that many had concluded that it was irreparable, but today it is perfectly fitted to meet International standards.
He made sterling performances as governor, dualizing Rumuokuta-Choba East-West road and Obi Akpor road. As a Governor he constructed Eleme junction flyover; Omofo-Agaba Ndele Road.
Rotimi Amaechi, known for executing capital projects, dredged roads at Opobo New Layout, while he ensured the construction of Zuzu to CSS Isu-Ogida Owu Egbu.
It is noteworthy that the dualisation of Airport-Isiokpo/Omarelu; Ada George Phases 1 and 2/ Choba phase 2 NTA/Choba Airport; Rumuola/Rumuokuta Road; First Bank/Rumuomasi; slaughter-Trans Amadi/Rumuobiakani Roads were efficiently executed during his administration in Rivers State.
His passion for the growth of education in the State knew no bounds. His administration built primary schools in every community in Rivers State, while he ensured the construction of Modern Secondary schools in each Local Government in the State.
He was the first State Government who compassionately took over the payment of Primary schools’ teachers’ salaries from Local Government coffers. This ended the epileptic payment of their salaries.
It is not an understatement that God has blessed Amaechi with an uncommon kind of wisdom and strength, which he has deployed in his service to the people.
His achievements in Rivers State, especially in the works and transportation sector, must have given birth to his appointment as the Nation’s Minister for Transport.
As expected, Amaechi has put his best foot forward and this has yielded in certain unprecedented projects.
His achievements in the railway sector have been applauded by stakeholders. The 156km Lagos-Ibadan railway line officially began passenger operations in January this year, under the supervision of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
The former Governor has devoted much time, energy and attention to rehabilitation of the railway sector, where he has recorded tremendous achievements. It is hoped that the line will lead to increasing amounts of freight transported by rail to reduce congestion on the roads and save infrastructure from heavy volumes of lorries.
Amaechi has done relatively well with the railway sector, successfully balancing his duties as the Minister for Transport and Rivers State Politics. One will recall that the Abuja-Kaduna rail line project is one of the first standard gauge railway modernisation projects (SGRMP) undertaken in Nigeria.
The standard gauge line connects federal capital city Abuja with its commercial capital Kaduna, enabling faster movement of goods and people between the two cities.
The construction of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line was started in February 2011 and completed in December 2014 with China’s support. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari officially inaugurated the line for commercial services in July 2016.
Same company delivering this project, China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), constructed the Lagos Rail Mass Transit System in Nigeria, under Amaechi’s supervision.
The project reportedly employed approximately 4,000 people and is expected to create more than 5,000 additional jobs during operation.
Meanwhile, knowing fully well that the Maritime sector is a major tentacle of his portfolio, he has focused on major reformation of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
Under his watch, the industry has witnessed a major change, which has increased its growth. The achievements recorded in the sector are screaming testimonies to his successes in the sector. With the co-operation of relevant agencies, the shipping development has been recorded.
He is working on the delivery of a National Shipping line. The revival of this line will go a long way. It will boost the Nation’s chances to take control of the freight of the huge cargos it generates and earn more foreign exchange for the country.
Judging by his passion for the sector and all major industries therein, one can safely judge that the Minister would leave the sector in a better shape than he met it, and posterity would be kind to him.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the Editorial team of TheScript Newspapers
