Amaechi Wins Favourite Minister Poll of Star FM 101. 5 Lagos
Israel Ibeleme
Star FM 101.5 Ikeja in Lagos, Nigeria has nominated the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honourabke Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Favourite Minister.
The nomination was done on Mofe, The Early Rush programme, a daily stable of the popular radio, Star FM 101.5, with a large listening audience.
The audience had been asked to answer a simple question of, “who is the favorite Minister based on performance under the present administration?”.
Information made available to News Dot Africa was that majority of the listeners that called and sent text messages from within and outside the country commended the works done by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, under the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, especially on Lagos-Ibadan; Itakpe –Ajeokuta –Warri; Abuja – Kaduna Rail Lines and Works done in the Maritime sector.
According to the poll, Amaechi who topped the list as the best performing Minister for his achievements especially in the rail and maritime sector was closely followed by the Minister for foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama .
It will be recalled that the Kaduna-Abuja-Kaduna rail line was completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2016 under keen supervision by the Minister.
This has not only become the preferred mode of transportation for passengers traveling to and fro Abuja to Kaduna but is also raking in millions as revenue for the federal government.
The Managing Director , Nigeria Railway Commission, NRC, Fidet Okhira in January 2019 disclosed that sales of tickets generated over N960 million in 2018 with an average of about 80million monthly and an expected projection of an increase in revenue with the addition of more coaches.
Similarly, the 157.500 km standard gauge Lagos-Ibadan rail line awarded to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company , CCECC, to the tune of $1.56b scheduled to be completed in three years after the project was flagged off in March 2017 is nearing completion by the end of June 2019 way ahead of its scheduled date. Already, the Lagos-Abeokuta axis is already in operation.
Reacting to the announcement via a statement , the media Aide to the Minister, Isreal Ibeleme expressed appreciation to Nigerians who took part in the poll saying that indeed the dedication and doggedness of the Minister in ensuring Nigeria moves towards economic prosperity is paying off.
One of the callers Lateef Tiamiyu from Ogun state who called in during the poll said, ” I live in area where railway transportation is more acceptable than any other transport system .
“Honestly speaking, Minister Rotimi Amaechi has done wonderfully well than any other minister.The ministry had worked and still seriously working on the standard gauge.”
Another caller who simply gave his name as CJ said ” mofe, good morning, my own minister is that of transport Amaechi. Ever since colonial era, we are practically seeing new rail tracks, not rehabilitated ones, Warri-Itakpe, Lagos- Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna with new coaches.”
