Nigeria Transportation: Stakeholders meet, Chart a Way Forward

By Urube Peter, Abuja

The Minister of State for Transportation, Mr Ademola Adewole has assured Nigerians that Government will do more in providing infrastructural development in the transport sector to boost the economy.

The minister while declaring the event open commended the Abuja Transportation and Aviation Correspondents Association, ATACA members for bringing stakeholders together on issues bordering the transportation sector aimed at charting a way forward.

Nigeria Transport Sector has the capacity to turned the country economy around if necessary mechanism is in place.

The Guest Speaker, Chief Economic Adviser, Cross River State and Former Private Sector Specialist at the African Development Bank, Dr Francis Ntamu, explained at the 2022 Annual Seminar organised by the ATACA in Abuja.

Dr Ntamu highlighted, the economic growth policy in Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria, with Ethiopia having the highest growth rate which he attributed to a robust air and rail transportation system.

He therefore advised the Federal Government to dredge Nigeria’s ports so as to create room for larger vessels to come in, to create more jobs and generate revenue for the country.

He suggested integrated model transportation system and urged government at all levels to increase investment and collaboration in the sector as part of the strategy to salvage the nation’s troubled economy.

He encouraged collaboration between the Ministries, Agencies, international and local investor in the transportation sector.

On the maritime, Dr Ntamu listed interventions in the maritime sector with catalytic impact on Nigeria’s socio-economic recovery to include; the Badagry Port (16m)–Upcoming with renewed commitment from Lagos State Government; Olokola Port(17m)–some governance and implementation delays; Agaie Port(16m)–preparation phase; Lekki Port(16.5m)-Over 95% completion achieved. Ready for commercial take-off in 2023; Ibom Port(16.5m)–Financial close achieved. Pre-construction phase; Gelegele River Port–Edo State; and Burutu Port -Delta State.

On the aviation sector, he noted that the Nigerian Air has massive opportunity for national economic transformation with significant expected development outcomes.

“If we look at the railway construction going on almost all over the country, it has contributed to the country’s GDP despite some challenges, Dr Ntamu.

“Same goes to the Maritime sector which is not left behind. The Deep Blue seaport project, the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure which was implemented in 2018 to curb Maritime insecurity in Nigeria and Gulf of Guinea and the provision of modern Technology facilities in Nigerian Ports for smooth Operations are all commendable.”

On his part, Right Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the event and former Minister of Transportation, ably represented by Honourable Biokpo Awara, said the Nigerian government had achieved a lot in transforming Nigeria’s transportation system and urged the citizens to make good use of them.

Earlier, Chairman of ATACA, Chris Agabi, stated that the Seminar was part of the Association’s efforts to bring stakeholders to discuss strategies through which the transportation sectors would rescue the Nigerian economy.

Also speaking, the President of Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Association Of Nigeria (ROMAN), Alhaji Olusola Sotayo, called on government to regulate rather than ban Okada riders as they contribute to the economic growth and reduce the crime in the society

In another development, an interview conducted with the Chairman of Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CHIOTA) and pipelines transportation in Nigeria, Mr Zakka Bala, revealed that the Nigeria problem is conveyance. That is, it cut across ranging from natural disaster, flooding. This has effected majority of our roads, to heavy trucks/tankers loaded with substance causing damages on our roads.
Moreso, road construction activities going on our major high ways.

Engr Zakka, therefore suggested effective pipelines and rail lines that will take PMS, diesel, kerosene etc from southern part to at middle birth of Nigeria.

He called on Nigeria leaders to think inward and inginalized our local productions to improve economy and create employment.

Also Responding to question from media was a chairperson/founder of Female Drivers Association of Nigeria, Ambassador Eunice Ogege, who said despite the issues of stigmisation, she is grateful to the Federal Road Safety Core, FRSC for being very patriotic in training their members for free across the country.

Ogege stated that as at present, there are over one million female drivers across the country, some into Uber, Bot Taxi, Trucks, Train,commercial and so on driving. The challenge the association is facing is refusal to engaged more female drivers, the excuses of when such female will be absent for maternity leave and acossional refused to closed late hour, to her it’s the same complain in public service.