Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that he instructed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to employ 1,000 northerners during his tenure in former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, Amaechi explained that his directive was prompted by the observation that southerners, particularly from the South-South and South-East regions, dominated employment positions at NIMASA.

"When I became Minister of Transportation, the South-South and South-East had the highest number of employees in NIMASA. I called the DG of NIMASA and asked him to employ 1,000 northerners," Amaechi stated.

The former Rivers State governor cited high poverty and unemployment rates in northern Nigeria as the primary motivations behind his decision. He also mentioned taking northerners to China as part of his ministerial initiatives.

"I built the University of Transport in Daura; I did those things because I knew poverty was a problem, unemployment was a problem," he added, referencing other projects he implemented to address economic challenges in the northern region.

Amaechi served as Minister of Transportation throughout Buhari's eight-year presidency from 2015 to 2023, overseeing significant developments in Nigeria's transportation sector, particularly in railway infrastructure.

The revelation comes amid ongoing national conversations about federal character principles, regional balance in appointments, and employment opportunities across Nigeria's geopolitical zones.