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| Former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi |
In responding to the allegation against former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on the Mono Rail Project, Mr. George Feyii and Mr. Chamberlin Peterside who were his former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Commissioner for Finance respectively issued a statement saying the allegations by the present administration in Rivers state, and the INTEGRITY GROUP are not true. They buttressed their position with the following:
The Rivers Monorail Project is a major transport infrastructure project undertaken by the Rt. Amaechi administration. The project is in line with the vision of the administration that there is a need to reposition Port Harcourt to become a major business destination in the South-South.
Recognizing that Port Harcourt is the oil capital of the country. The aim of the Monorail Transportation system is to ease traffic on the major road corridor in the state and in doing that, galvanize business and jump start the local economy.
The Rivers Monorail project is not a stand-alone project. For the project to be appreciated, it needs to be seen in conjunction with the complete developmental vision of the administration.eg the building of a new city; the Greater Port Harcourt Development Area, the on-going Transport Sector Reforms, the construction of the Mega Terminals. The aim of all these, is the repositioning of Port Harcourt.
The Monorail project is a well-considered option after exhaustive analysis of all other options. For instance, the National Railway is comatose and also there is an extent to which you can expand the roads.
The decision to construct the Rivers Monorail Project was jointly adopted by the Rivers State Executive Council during the first tenue of Rotimi Amaechi when the present Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was the Chief of Staff to the Governor at the time.
When the decision to construct the Monorail was taken, there were no Due Process laws in existence in the state. But it should be noted that after the enactment of the Due process laws, The Monorail Project owner engineers; Arcus Gibb and officials of the Rives State Ministry of Transport were constantly briefing and keeping the Due process team up to date on all issues as they relate to the project. This fact can be backed up with several minutes of meeting between Due Process and officials of the Ministry of Transport/Arcus Gibb.
It should also be highlighted that after the PPP (Public Private Partnership) partners; TSI Property and Investment Holdings Ltd pulled out of the project because of her inability to contribute her own 80% equity contribution (Due to the financial crash of 2008), The Former Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru headed an Executive Council committee to review and recommend if the Rivers State Government should continue with the project. The committee recommended that the Rivers State Government should continue with the construction of the Monorail Project with Arcus Gibb acting as the project consultants.
The monorail project is even more significant now given the recent fall in the price of oil and the need for governments to create conducive environment for local business to thrive. There is no better way of helping local businesses thrive than putting in place a proper transport infrastructure network.
As at the end of the tenure of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, 2 stations has been completed; Azikiwe and UTC Stations. The Depot and Sharks Park stations were already 80% completed. The train has been mounted and tested. In fact, the first phase of the project (2.6 Km stretch) could be said to have been technically completed.
It is infantile and the height of gross irresponsibility to request that the sum of N33Bn be returned to the Rivers State Government. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the rudiments of governance and infrastructural developments. Pertinent issues to be raised;
1. The N33Bn in question, is it the money that has been spent on the project?
2. Has the “so called” panel established any case of financial impropriety?
3. What is the Wike administration’s position on securing the assets of the project e.g. the trains that are just wasting away at the station?
It is important to compare this situation with the scenario in Lagos when British investors went on an inspection of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Project; Blue Line project (a public transport infrastructure project started by the former administration of Babatunde Fashola) and pledged the support of the UK private sector to the expansion of the project. That is what governance is all about. Continuity!
The present construction is on the busiest road corridor in the state and is broken down into 2 different phases. Phase 1A: 2.6km stretch, UTC-Sharks Park, 3 Stations and 1 Depot. Single track, 1 Train in operation. The train will have 7 coaches and will be able to accommodate 172 passengers with access for the handicapped. The train will be operating at a speed of 70km/hr. and is expected to travel within end stations in 8 minutes. Passengers will be expecting a train to stop at a station every 8 minutes.
Electric Supply for the system will be coming from the Trans Amadi Sub-Station with back-up generators installed.
Phase 1B: 3.9km stretch UTC-Waterlines. 3 proposed stations; Waterlines, Garrison and Isaac Boro, 6 trains.
Our construction strategy is in phases (All over the world the rail system is done in phases. In India it took 22 years to complete 1 line. Even in Dubai, it took them 8 years to complete their Monorail and it was done in phases).We started construction in February 2010. We have a commitment to make Phase 1A operational by April 2015. We are also deploying manpower and machinery for Phase 1B.
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