He should be contrite and still be trying to protect our rail investments and the lives and properties of those who would dare to ride those coaches. Rather than abandon governance, like the other electees and appointees have now done in Buhari’s government, Amaechi should hunker down and show Nigerians that he has their lives in mind and is a responsible officer…
But this is where my praise of Amaechi ends. Upon the launching of some of those services, their defects and inadequacies became apparent. For the first many months, the Kaduna-Abuja route was just a haven for touts who manipulated the ticketing system, made life hell for passengers, screwed up everything and pocketed hundreds of millions of naira every month.
It so happens that the ‘colleagues’ that Amaechi referred to were headed by the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, alongside who Mr Amaechi is running for president in 2023. Amaechi made the first move, by declaring on the 9th of April , and Osinbajo declared two days later on the 11th of April.
Amaechi should be explaining to Nigerians why he didn’t re-present the memo and proposal after Osinbajo’s Federal Executive Council meeting had stepped it down. He should be explaining why he did not put up any other alternative arrangements to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. He should be explaining why he did not properly risk-manage our rail system and protect billions of dollars, which he had signed as loans to China and for which they have lien on Nigeria’s assets.
In the north of Nigeria, only a few people have complained about the incursion of Chadians, northern Cameroonians and Nigeriens, and indeed all sorts of crazy characters as far as Sudan, Mali, Senegal and where else. We have had a sitting president since 2015, who once asked: “What is Boko Haram!?”, when his election was postponed by two weeks by the Jonathan government, but who ended up hitting the ground like a wet rag, making many Nigerians regret the day he was voted in.
In America, it took decades to stop train hijacks, which peaked during the Great Depression of the 1930s. I have been saying it that Nigeria has always been in an economic depression, even as those who run this economy continue to delude themselves. Are we ready to face decades of train hijacks and derailments with the attendant deaths? Riding the Lagos-Ibadan train, I even saw more hazards, from the security and human angles.
With security concerns of today even a DANGOTE won't make the mistake of building a refinery in the north...but when our money belongs to nobody you spend it anyhow without proper consideration.
Interestingly amaechi completed four different rail projects in 8 years while BAT, FASHOLA,AMBODE and now SANWO in over 20 years could not complete marina- mile2 rail line.....with stations, trains included. We are still inspecting trains worldwide
If you consider the security concerns in the north then no infrastructure will be built in the north...if you consider ROI then a Lagos - Ogere- Moniya new rail line is better than all built ..who picks the routes for the rail projects needs to be fired
As in' you are His father?
So says a senior member of the BAT Social Media Group.