NPA: Amaechi Visits Burnt Headquarters Building

The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday morning visited the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, exactly one month and two days after the building was razed by hoodlums.

Amaechi said that he has directed the NPA to approach the cabinet and ask for reconstruction depending on the integrity test carried out on the building.

The Honourable Minister lamented the extent of damage to the building, a Federal Government property, built with tax payers money.

“This is completely disastrous and I believe that it is not enough to vent your anger about Police brutality. How does this concern the Police? Whether you like it or not, this would be refurbished and rebuilt, and it is all Government funds; in other words, it belongs to those that set this place ablaze.”

“In governance, those who commit crimes should be held liable and appropriate punishment should be meted out to them” Amaechi said.

The Honourable Minister recalled how himself, being a student in 1983, protested alongside other notable Nigerians and they never burnt down or destroyed any Government property.

“From Buhari, up to Babangida, we were always on the streets coming out for protests. It is legitimate to protest, but it is illegitimate to take other people’s rights. The right to protest is defined in the Laws of Nigeria; it doesn’t include burning people’s houses, major or minor roads.”

“It shouldn’t end here! If we don’t punish those who did these, then others might do it again” he stated.

Amaechi said that he has given a written brief about the ugly incident, but that he is yet to go through it properly. He however, assured that investigations are ongoing between the Management of NPA and the Nigeria Police.

“I have made decisions that NPA should come to the cabinet and ask for reconstruction, depending on integrity because we don’t want to expose life” the Minister said.