By okey alozie
There are serious indications that all is not well with the ministry of Transport and Tourism.
Following the recent reports on issues of the ministry, so many things have been exposed which in turn have made Governor Rochas Okorocha to raise eye brows on various activities of the ministry.
One of the issues that has come up so dangerously is that of a Yoruba consultant named Mr Adeyemi who is reported to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ministry on revenue collection.
IGR contract was said to have been signed in 2012 under the former commissioner for Transport and Aviation Barr Nelson Ezerioha and the permanent secretary of the ministry, one Mrs Ama. Our source gathered that the MOU was signed to engage Mr Adeniyi as Technical adviser and a Trainer to the Transport office. He was also contracted on the implementation of the MOT Test Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Trumpeta newspaper gathered that Mr Adeniyi was not contracted to collect any revenue onbehalf of Imo state government.
More over his contract is said to be subject of review at intervals.
Investigation revealed that the contract has not been renewed since this year but the old MOU stated that 35% of the revenue generated under his service is accruable to him (Adeniyi) and this according to sources has been made known to the ministry of internal resources and pension. It also agreed that the consultant will receive his commission from the IGR ministry and not the ministry of transport. Source hinted that the consultant allegedly extended beyond his bounds and has dared Imo government and ministry of transport in many ways. Moreover, it was alleged by ministry workers that many financial scandals and fraudulent practices that concerns transport revenue have taken place since he came on board as a consultant in the state agency.
Authoritative sources from the transport ministry is signaling that there was no time it gave Mr Adeniyi the power to collect IGR on its behalf.
Adeniyi it is gathered is now hot soup for allegedly taking the ministry under governor Okorochas administration to the cleaners. The ministry, which was unfortunately turned into conduit pipe to siphon public money in the past, is now under check by higher authorities in the state for mismanagement and financial impropriety. It was gathered that many staff have enriched themselves through fraudulent related offences and financial misappropriation. Recent investigation has also revealed that the government has fallen apart with the contractor because of his activities. There are lots of petitions against the consultant named Adeniyi. One of the accusations against of the consultant is that he was alleged to have come through the back door and took total control of the transport sector to the chagrin of staffers. It was also believed that some top officials must have aided him to work against the government interest.
A close source to the transport ministry disclosed also that the man was in-charge of VIO during the time of the immediate past commissioner.
When contacted, the new commissioner for Transport and Tourism Hon Chief Anaeme said he is going to make a positive change in the ministry adding that all consultants will be shown the way out when he actually takes over from Prof Okey Okoro who was in-charge before him. He revealed that the ministry has enough to start to execute its policies on transportation.
All effort made to contact Mr Adeniyi to clarify some issues proved abortive.
