Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has decried the country’s freight transport system which allows goods to be hauled in a manner not consistent with efficient and global best practices.
The governor obseved that since the 70s, rail transport haul had been relegated to the background, coupled with non-functional inland waterways, attributing this to the reason the road transport now bears the burden of cargo distribution across the country.
Okowa, who was represented by Engineer Victor Omoniyi, made these observations at the 2019 National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) held at the weekend in Effurun-Warri, Delta State.
The theme of the conference is ‘The Role of the Railway in Freight Logistics System of Nigeria,’ with a communique containing observations and resolutions as regards the country’s transport system issued at the end of the AGM.
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Okowa advocated that maritime goods headed for the hinterland should be transported in a manner that encourages each mode of transportation to perform the function in its area of comparative advantage.
He noted that while it might be worthwhile to encourage the use of rail, particularly for cargo freight, emphasis should not be laid on one mode of transportation at the expense of others.
According to him, “since modern transportation system requires a multimodal approach: the integration of sea, rail and pipeline transportation, the critical factor is to control the entire chain of cargo distribution in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner.
“The essence is to adopt an efficient freight distribution system that will complete the cargo journey.”
Okowa stated that his government was in synergy with the Federal Government to restore the Warri Port and the Warri-Itakpe railway line to facilitate cargo movement, adding that the extension of Itakpe rail line to Abuja was a welcome development.
In his keynote address, national president of CILT, who was represented by the deputy national president, Alban Igwe, underscored why Warri was chosen to host the conference.
He opined that the oil-rich city arguably remains the first representation of multimodalism in Nigeria because it represents all modes of transport —rail, road, maritime, air and pipeline.
According to him, because of its surplus oil and gas mineral deposits and promixity to the Atlantic Ocean, Warri is the port of the future if well developed.
He added that the presence of Osubi Airstrip, at the completion of the expansion of the East-West road, Warri-Benin road and the remaining 27km Warri section of the Warri-Itakpe Standard gauge line, Warri will attract investors, professionals and artisans.
Dignitaries who also gave short addresses at the two-day conference included former Minister of Transport, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, who was the chairman on the occasion, the vice president (East), Chief Tony Onoharigho; Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engineer Feeeborn Okhirah, among others.