Former governor of Rivers state and newly inaugurated Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi says he is scared of going to jail.

The Minister, who disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after his inauguration, also said he would ensure that the railway transportation system in Nigeria is revived to help boost economic activities.

“Everybody is crying about rail transportation, which will be the easiest form of transportation, if we can do it. Also, we want to ensure that those in charge of rail transportation are capable of delivering that responsibility.

“If there are places where the construction has not been completed, we will ensure that they are completed and extend them to parts of the country, especially areas where there are economic activities like agricultural produce so that products are taken from the point of production to the point of sale.

“We must not disappoint Nigerians, it is important to know that we realise that we have a mandate because there is huge competition among the ministries and the ministers; who will deliver first and also who will deliver on the mandate of the president and we don’t want to be the last.

Furthermore, Amaechi pleaded that no one should ask him for money nor should bribe be offered to him.

He also advised his relatives not to steal public funds, while stressing that he abhors praise-singing.

“Please if you want to relate with me, please don’t ask me for money and please don’t give me. Also, people say I don’t fear but I fear jail; I don’t want to go to jail and so the first thing I do is to tell my relations and everyone around me not to steal and please don’t put me in a situation where I cannot defend you and don’t put me in a situation where I won’t be able to call a man who is a thief a thief because if he steals and I cannot call him a thief, it means that I have also stolen.

“We also believe that the era of impunity is over, we should not give room to corruption. If you are asked to pay, you pay. If aircraft licence expires and if some aircraft are in bad shape, they should not be allowed to fly because human lives will be lost.

“I also don’t like praise singing. Let us just deliver on our work, don’t praise sing. I don’t like it. I have heard enough of it because I have held positions and in the process, I have heard enough people praising me but please let us just stop praise singing.”

Janeth J