Nigerian Government reiterates commitment to sustainable transport infrastructure
The Nigerian Government has restated its commitment to providing sustainable transportation infrastructure to boost economic development in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, who disclosed this in Kano, north-west Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the technical session of the 16th National Council on Transportation (NCT) with the theme: “Sustainable Transportation: A Panacea for National Development”, said “transportation has proven to be one of the critical factors of development at the heart of economic growth and prosperity of any nation.”
Dr. Ajani further said “transportation as the lubricant and engine of economic development, should have its rightful place, if sustainable development is to be achieved. It is for the same reason that the President Buhari’s administration in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has pursued economic diversification by building sustainable transportation infrastructure across the country.”
She said the government had embarked on the implementation of a multimodal transport system, a revitalisation programme and massive investment in the sector despite financial challenges.
Notable amongst these achievements are: the completion and commissioning of the Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge lines, the Commissioning of the Deep Blue Sea project to improve security and reduce piracy at sea and the recent ground-breaking of the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge Rail
Ajani said that the NCT was responsible for articulating a sustainable framework for the development of the transport sector.
“A forum of this nature provides opportunity for the key players in the sector to interact, cross fertilize ideas and exchange information that will contribute to the growth of the sector”, she said.
Economic development
The Kano State Commissioner for Housing and Transport, Alhaji Mahmoud Sansti, said that transportation is key to achieving economic growth and development.
He however noted that the sector was facing a lot of challenges, hence the need for all stakeholders to proffer lasting solutions.
Sansti urged participants to work hard in bringing out recommendations that would assist to address the challenges in the sector
Speakers at the event, Professor Samuel Adewumi and the Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Ross Oluyede, agreed that the transportation sector is the most important infrastructure in any economy. They equally agreed that no sector can thrive in the absence of a viable and operational transport system.
Challenges
Oluyede further observed that there are challenges bedevilling the Nigerian transport sector, most notable being insufficient transport infrastructure and lack of investment (both Public and Private sector). He suggested among others that the Federal Government should deploy a Public Private Partnership (PPP) syntax for the transport sector.
Day one of the conference came to a close after reading of resolutions from the 15th National Council on Transportation which was held in 2017 in Sokoto State.
In attendance at day one of the conference were: Directors of the Ministry, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Registrar, Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Sam Nwakohu, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Emmanuel Jime, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Housing and Transport, Mrs. Amina Usman, Permanent Secretary, Yobe State Ministry of Transport, Mustapha, and a host of others.
Nneka Ukachukwu
