“Your Book Full Of Lies Against Me” – Amaechi Slams Former NPA MD

Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transport, has criticized Hadiza Usman, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for the claims she leveled against him in her book, ‘Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority.’

Amaechi, who served in previous President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, admitted to lying during TheNiche annual lecture on Thursday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was the guest speaker.

Amaechi spoke about the book and rejected Usman’s assertion in the book that he arranged her dismissal as NPA Managing Director.

He said, “Some of you must have read the book written by the former MD of the NPA, ‘Stepping on Toes.’ There has been a huge debate about whether I should respond or not. The lies were too many.

“For instance, she claims that she was not indicted by the panel, but she was found guilty of all the ten counts. I even came with a copy of the memo to the President in which the President endorsed her removal.

“We took the President through all the counts, including the fact that a Managing Director of NPA with a N2.5m approval limit can approve a N2.8bn contract. No appropriation, including the fact that even if I were to approve despite the lack of appropriation, you are overpriced by N58m, so tell them to refund the difference, having awarded the contract.

“Why is that document not public? Prominent Nigerians are involved. She gave waivers to prominent Nigerians, which she had no power to give, and these are dollars accruable to the Nigerian economy. Still, she was bold to write the book, and Nigerians followed her to launch the book.”