Stakeholders in Nigeria’s transportation sector have called for stronger integration of road, rail, water and air transport, saying an efficient multimodal logistics system is critical to reducing business costs, improving movement of goods and driving economic growth.
The call was made at the 2026 Transport Industry Summit organised by the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Lagos, with the theme, “Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics.”
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said transportation should be treated as a major driver of productivity, trade, industrial development, employment and national competitiveness.
Opeifa said Nigeria needed a transportation system in which rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation complemented one another rather than operated in isolation.
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He noted that rail had a particularly important role to play because of its capacity to move large volumes of passengers and bulk freight over long distances, thereby reducing pressure on highways and lowering logistics costs.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation, he explained, was focusing not only on passenger services but also on expanding freight operations and improving connectivity between rail lines, seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.
“The future of Nigeria’s transportation sector must also be driven by stronger partnerships. Government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure and investment required,” Opeifa said.
The NRC Managing Director called for greater private-sector participation in rolling stock, freight terminals, logistics hubs and related infrastructure, alongside a regulatory environment that promoted efficiency and innovation.
Extension of Network
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority said Nigeria’s extensive network of rivers, creeks, lagoons and inland waterways presented significant opportunities for passenger and cargo movement.
He said waterways could provide an efficient alternative for bulk and heavy cargo, reduce pressure on roads and improve connectivity when properly integrated with road, rail and port infrastructure.
The NIWA Managing Director stressed the importance of safety in expanding inland water transportation, urging operators to comply with regulatory requirements, vessel documentation, safety equipment and navigation standards.
The authority also called for increased private investment in terminals, jetties, passenger transportation, cargo movement, vessel development, logistics services and technology.
“Omi Eko” Initiative
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said Lagos could no longer rely solely on roads to meet its transportation needs due to its growing population and economy.
Emmanuel said the state was investing in water transportation through initiatives including the Omi Eko Project, which seeks to introduce modern and environmentally sustainable ferries, upgrade terminals and improve connectivity between waterfront communities and major economic centres.
He disclosed that Lagos State was also working to integrate informal boat operators into a modernised water transportation system through improved safety standards, training and participation opportunities.
“Water transportation should not be measured solely by the revenue it generates, but by the economic opportunities it enables,” Emmanuel said.
He further stressed the need for improved safety, technology, institutional coordination and private-sector participation, particularly as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Inland Waterways Investment
The Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria also urged greater investment in Nigeria’s inland waterways, describing water transport as a potential growth driver rather than a fallback mode of transportation.
The association’s National Public Relations Officer, Chief Raymond Gold, said its members transported commuters, traders and goods across creeks, lagoons and inland waterways, particularly in areas where road transportation was inefficient or inaccessible.
Gold called for sustained investment in jetty infrastructure, safety standards and training of boat operators, stressing that efficient water transport could reduce congestion on roads while connecting riverine communities to the wider economy.
The National Secretary-General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mohammed Sani Bala, in a goodwill message, urged the Nigerian Government and stakeholders to address infrastructure and operational bottlenecks affecting the maritime logistics chain.
Stronger International Connections
AMATO called for improved road and port infrastructure, weighbridges, truck marshalling yards, stronger intermodal connections and digitalisation of logistics operations.
The association also demanded action against illegal checkpoints and extortion along logistics routes and called for CNG palliatives for heavy-duty truck operators.
According to AMATO, a more efficient logistics sector would translate into lower costs, faster movement of goods, increased competitiveness, greater investment and more jobs.
The stakeholders agreed that Nigeria’s transportation challenges could not be addressed through isolated investments in individual modes, but through coordinated infrastructure, regulation, safety standards, technology and private-sector participation.
They also commended the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria for providing a platform for policymakers, regulators, operators, investors and the media to examine the role of transportation logistics in Nigeria’s economic development.
