...says former Minister delivered remarkable projects all through
Amaechi and his feats as Minister of Transportation: It Beats the Imagination of Every Right Thinking Nigerian to Hear People Say Amaechi Has Nothing to Show for His Eight Years as Minister ..Such Faulty Reasoning Exudes Ignorance at a Dangerous Level – Eze Bemoans Hollowbrained Andrew Emwanta.
By Olawale Lamina
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described as unfortunate, misleading, politically motivated and borne out of sheer ignorance, the statement credited to one Andrew Emwanta, challenging the performance record of former Transportation Minister of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and also alleging that the latter did not achieve anything while serving under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Eze referenced to a video posted on the official YouTube channel of TVC News on Friday, May 29, 2026, while evaluating the long-term infrastructure achievements of previous cabinet members, Emwanta had alleged concerning Amaechi that, “for eight years, he was Minister for Transportation, but there was nothing to show for that period.”
But his reaction through a statement made available to the media, Chief Eze took a swipe at Amaechi’s critic, stating that such reckless comments only exposed the level of ignorance and deliberate distortion of facts by individuals who either lack basic knowledge of governance or are blinded by envy, bitterness and political hatred.
Chief Eze argued that it is both laughable and insulting to Nigerians for anybody to claim that Amaechi recorded no achievements as Minister of Transportation when his tenure remains one of the most impactful and transformational in the history of Nigeria’s transportation sector.
Eze argued further that before Amaechi assumed office as governor of Rivers state in 2015, Nigeria’s railway system was practically comatose, abandoned and forgotten by successive administrations, but through visionary leadership, administrative competence, courage and commitment to national development, Amaechi revived and modernized the sector to the admiration of both local and international observers.
The APC chieftain also seized the occasion to enumerate some of the landmark achievements recorded by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during his tenure as Minister of Transportation which he noted included Completion and commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway Line; Completion and commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway Project with extension to Apapa Port for improved commercial activities and port efficiency;Revival and completion of the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line abandoned for several decades; Massive progress on the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway rehabilitation project; Advancement of the Ibadan-Kano railway modernization project; Groundbreaking for the Kano-Maradi rail line aimed at boosting regional trade and economic integration; Procurement of modern locomotives, coaches and rail equipment to improve railway services across Nigeria; Introduction of electronic ticketing systems in rail transportation; Establishment of the Transportation University in Daura, Katsina State; Development of the Kajola Wagon Assembly Plant to encourage local railway technology transfer.
Other remarkable projects by Amaechi according to his ally and benefactor included-Training of Nigerian engineers in China to domesticate railway technology and expertise; Rehabilitation of railway facilities and ancillary infrastructure across several states;Improvement of inland waterways and maritime transport systems; Facilitation of port reforms and logistics infrastructure to enhance economic activities and trade efficiency, among others.
Chief Eze stressed that the listed projects remain visible and verifiable across the country and cannot be erased by cheap propaganda or politically motivated revisionism.
He emphasized that Amaechi’s achievements were so outstanding that he was honoured with the prestigious THISDAY Newspaper Editors’ Choice Award as “Minister of the Decade” during the Buhari administration, in recognition of his unprecedented contributions to infrastructure development and transportation reforms in Nigeria.
Eze equally added that the award was not given on the basis of sentiments or political affiliation, but on measurable performance, uncommon dedication to public service and transformative leadership which distinguished Amaechi among all ministers that served under President Buhari.
Chief Eze recalled that even former President Muhammadu Buhari openly acknowledged Amaechi’s immense contributions to the revival of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, describing him as a “golden fish” and a valuable asset to his administration due to his role in resuscitating the nation’s rail transportation system.
He therefore advised Amaechi’s critic, Andrew Emwanta and others with similar sentiment, who he noted only derive pleasure in making careless public statements “to always verify facts before speaking on matters of national importance,” noting that political disagreements should never degenerate into deliberate falsehood and blackmail.
The ADC Chieftain, Media Consultant, Public Relations Strategist and former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP said “Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi remains one of the finest and most courageous political leaders Nigeria has produced. His records as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Governor of Rivers State, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Minister of Transportation remain indelible and speak eloquently for him.
“No amount of propaganda, bitterness or coordinated campaign of calumny can erase the monumental achievements Amaechi recorded in office. History will continue to remember him as one leader who deployed public office for visible national development and infrastructural transformation.”
Chief Eze concluded by calling on Nigerians to ignore detractors whose stock in trade is the manipulation of facts for political survival, stressing that posterity will always honour visionary leaders who made meaningful sacrifices for the growth and development of the country.
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