Nigeria’s House of Reps moves to reposition road transport sector

In a move to reposition the road transport sector in Nigeria, the House of Representatives’Committee On Transportation has held a Public Hearing On A Bill For An Act To Repeal The Nigerian Institute Of Transport Technology.

The public hearing brought industry players, professionals and the General public to brainstorm and bear experiences and knowledge on the bill.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila while declaring the hearing open, said that transportation needs to be harnessed to boost the Nigerian economy.

“If this sector is properly utilised and harnessed, the sector can sufficiently sustain the Nigerian economy and liberate us from the current over dependence on oil. Consequently, it will encourage economic diversification and provide direct and indirect investment and employment to the populace”. Gbajabiamila said.

He added that the legislators would continue to support the road transport sector to be the gold mine it should be.

The Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said that transportation was fundamental and pivotal to every society.

He said that the sector has the proficiency to create jobs for Nigerian teaming youths.

“The House Committee on land transport is desirous to formulate laws that will turn around this sector within the shortest possible time,” Abbas said.

He added that it was imperative that Nigeria upgraded and equipped the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology to a world class institute so that it can compete favourably with other transport institutions.

“If the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology is upgraded, I believe neighbouring countries will in no distant time, come to the institute to learn and train their people”.

Abbas urged stakeholders, professionals and experts, especially those in the transport sector to make positive input on the bill for Nigeria to have a viable transport sector.

Critical

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Transport, Gbemi Saraki, has said that the public hearing offers another opportunity to contribute to the lawmaking process in respect of the evolution of the institute that is critical to the development of qualified and competent manpower in Nigeria’s transportation sector.

“The NITT is one of the key institutions under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transport and it is the ministry’s objective that it should be supported and encouraged to achieve its full potentials to become an institution of global standard; where, within the next few years will also hopefully be a self funding institution.

“I therefore plegde the full support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to the present legislative initiative by way of Appeal to repeal and re-enact the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology Act.

“Since it came into effect on the 14th if March 1986, the NITT Act has not been enabled given the need yo respond to changing circumstances including the need to streamline the membership of its governing powers and align its staff policies to other academic institutions. The ministry supports the general principles of the bill which is geared towards ensuring the NITT becomes a more professional, practical, computer driven institution which will serve as a hub to produce the much needed manpower in our nation’s transport sector”. Saraki said.

She also said that as Nigeria’s economy continues to expand, the transportation sector will be required to adjust to changing realities and provide for objectives and carry solutions to service its expected expansion.

“This bill from our evaluation is designed to ensure that we put in place a foremost national institution to address our potential manpower requirements to achieve this objective. We look forward to the aggregation of views from other stakeholders in the sector during this public hearing to ensure the draft bill reasonably reflects the diverse interests of the different stakeholders within the sector. As a ministry we assure you chairman and members that we shall continue to work closely with this committee even after this public hearing to ensure that the final output is practical in the interest of the long-term development of the institute and consistent with the overall vision of a modern and sustainable transportation sector which my ministry is currently championing”. She added.

The committee is also expected look into the incessant road mishaps in the country.

Hauwa Abu