THERE was a heated argument at the House of Representatives Hearing Room 028 on Monday between Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and House Committee Chairman on Treaties, Particulars and Agreement Ossai Nicholas Ossai during the legislative hearing on the alleged $33 billion loans agreements signed by the ministry.
The following discussion took place between the minister and the panel chairman:
Ossai: You submitted an addendum section 16 B (1) under the loan content obligation. Articule 61 (1) stated that the contractor hall develops and submit to the employer, Ministry of Transport for its approval a local content plan for training and engagement of Nigeria labour plan in all aspect of the contractor work. Can you provide the committee with the certified copies of the labour plan, training carried out and the beneficiaries and evidence of the number of Nigerians working in all aspect of this project and their Chinese counterpart as provided in that document?
Amaechi: I will give a slight response to your speech and they my response. The slight response is to say that we tried to be more patriotic than we have been.
Committee member: Point of order Mr Chairman.
Ossai: I have given him the right to speak.
Amaechi: No sir, I have a right to speak. You have invited me and I have a right to speak. I was once a member of a House. So, I have the right to talk.
Ossai: Can you speak to the questions I asked you now?
Amaechi: It is either you allow speak or I stop.
Ossai: I am in charge here and I will observe you when the need arises. The Minister is speaking and I will not observe any other member. Let the Minister finished his speech and I will give you room to talk.
Amaechi: So, Mr Chairman, the contract awarded by this government is $1.2 billion contributions by the Chinese and the $400 million being contributed by Nigeria. You ask for document and I have said I will provide the details. You talk about training. Over 150 Nigerians are in China to be trained. Apart from that, they have built two training institutions. One in Idu and I will like the Chairman to come and visit. We are also building a university in Daura.
Ossai: Are you aware, Mr Minister of the $11.1 billion Nigeria Coastal Railway project that was signed on 1st of July 2016?
Amaechi: Has the loan been approved?
Ossai: I am asking you. Are you aware?
Amaechi: I am aware, but has the loan been approved?
Ossai: You made a lot of statements initially and you restricted yourself to one. The Commercial contract further stated that the contract further covenant that he shall give priority to the engagement of Nigerian commercial firm for the supply of goods and materials. Can you provide us with records of Nigerians commercial firms currently being engaged and providing services under this contract?
Amaechi: it is important to tell you that the contract was signed as a credit to a loan and we have not gotten the loan because of you and the committee you set up against the China group. That contract is from Lagos to Calabar which covers the whole of the south-south. We may not get that loan and so, there is no contract.
Ossai: I am talking about the contract…
Amaechi: Which contract? Do you want to see the south-south contract? If you want to, say so. Because you are from the south-south. Because of the committee, you have set up, we will loss that loan for the project from Lagos to Calabar.
Ossai: This issue is not about South-south, but about Nigeria and I am serving Nigeria as a legislator. For us to continue to serve our geopolitical zones, this country will not be nice. If zone A gets their share, next year, another zone…
Amaechi: I am coming, have you now approached me on the south south rail?
Ossai: I have not
Amaechi: You have. Mr Chairman, you have approached me.
Ossai: That is ok. We will degenerate the issue to south-south or any other south.
