Stakeholders are calling for the implementation of the National Transportation Policy as a solution to the difficult, expensive, and unavailable means of conveying goods, services, and people from one destination to another in Nigeria.
They identified non-existence of an effective transportation model in the country as one of the major causes of rising cost of commodities in the marketplace.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the President of the Institute, Barr. Mfon Ekong Usoro stated that the Federal government should implement the Transport Policy to enable development and competitiveness in the industry.
She said the Policy will integrate transport planning and implementation. “Attaining a coordinated, collaborative, integrated transport system is a shared responsibility of the ministries in charge of the transport sub-sectors and citizens.
“We can achieve this only if Nigeria has a National Transport Policy. A final Draft of the National Transport Policy was produced in 2022.
“The Policy Provides for integrated transport planning, operation, implementation and enforcement chapters for each transport mode with the intention that the respective modes will develop detailed implementation policies that align with the a globally agreed policy imperatives” she stated.
Also at the Conference, the keynote speaker, Dr. George Banjo insisted that the implementation of the National Transport Policy will push the different segments of the sector to drastically increase performance due to adequate supervision.
He said the implementation will also reduce cases of Policy inconsistency that have hindered efficiency, competition, and easy access in the transportation chain in Nigeria.
On his part, the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. CG Musa noted that an efficient transportation system is key in any operation.
He explained that transport and logistics are the pillars of an effective structure that delivers results even in war against criminalities.
Musa expressed enthusiasm that the conference would proffer solutions that would improve the transportation sector of the country.
At the conference, some individuals were honoured with awards due to their contributions towards a better transportation industry in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Executive Secretary, Barr. Pius Akutah also received award from the CILT for contributing positively to the sector.
CILT noted that the Council is playing a role that is integral to the development of transportation in Nigeria.
Alongside Akutah, the Chief of Defense Staff amongst others received awards for the various roles they are playing in improving the transportation system in the country.
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