To a experience rapid national development, provision of transportation infrastructure must be seen as an exercise in progress.
Honourable Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, at the ongoing 2022 Ministerial Retreat with the theme: “Developing Capacity and Strategy to Deliver the National Development Plan (NDP) for the Transportation Sector,”
The retreat holds from Wednesday October 26, to Sunday October 30, 2022.
According to Sambo, “The Transportation Sector has contributed to the socio-economic needs of Nigerians and promoted the overall sustainable development of the nation.
“The provision of transportation infrastructure is and will always be work in progress for any nation that desires rapid development” .
Sambo affirmed that it is the realization of the existence of the gaps in the sector that informed the government decision on, “National Development Plans (Medium-Term Development Plans 2021-2025 and a Long-Term Plan known as the Nigeria Agenda 2050) which the Ministry has domesticated as the “Transport Sector Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2021-2025 Policy Document, with the aim at accelerating the growth of the transportation sector in the country with a strategic Medium-Term Vision Statement.
This, according to the plan will lead to an effective, efficient, intermodal, safe, reliable, affordable and sustainablet transportation system contributing positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy.
To make the above possible, the Ministry intends to pursue the goal by improving safety and transportation, security, collaboration and synergy amongst transportation stakeholders, professionalism and Human Capacity Building; strengthening institutional governance and regulation; as well as Multi-modal infrastructural development to bring about “safe and Secured Transportation; Drive Economic Development; Facilitate Connectivity (Intermodal and Multimodal); Develop Local Capacity (Professionalism); Ensure Sustainability.”
The minister identified activities that would drive the transportation sector to include: Implementation of the 25 year – Railway Modernization Programme; the Ports Master Plan; Inland Waterways transportation development, the Nigerian Transportation Master-plan (NTM); Tarrifs and costs and reaction of Private Sector – led National fleet and Manpower capacity development.
While applauding the successes recorded through the efforts of Buhari’s administration in the Rail, Maritime and Road Sub-sectors, the Minister called on all stakeholders to maintain harmonious working relationships that would “galvanize the transportation sector to become more competitive, efficient and productive”.
Also speaking at the retreat, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye called on stakeholders in the transportation sector to leverage on the opportunities presented by Public, Private Partnership (PPP) to grow the sector as they have the capital and expertise needed for growth.
Adegoroye also, advised that Nigeria should take full advantage of its geographical position in the West African sub-region and Africa at large to leverage on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement of which the country is privy, just as he insisted that the transportation sector remains a major driver for the promotion of intra-African trade .
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, observed that ” the transportation sector is a major driver of the National Development Plans as the sector is critical for the enhacement of natural integration, economic growth and unification of the country “.
