The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria is moving towards an efficient, integrated transport system that would contribute to the economic growth of the nation.
Speaking in Abuja while unveiling Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, said transportation remained central to the nation’s economy because it connects workers, families, businesses, markets and communities.
He explained that the current administration was determined to provide infrastructure capable of supporting a productive, competitive and interconnected economy.
Represented at the event by the Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Shettima stated that the government’s approach was shifting from the development of isolated transportation projects to the creation of an integrated national network in which roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation complement one another.
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He said the objective was to ensure that transport infrastructure connected production centres with markets, ports and consumers, while improving the movement of people and goods across the country.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, said integration meant ensuring that Nigeria’s different modes of transportation did not develop independently but functioned as components of a single national system.
“Our efforts are equally focused on connecting transportation infrastructure to the nation’s economic gateways. The rail connection to Apapa Port has provided an important foundation for efficient cargo evacuation, while the Ministry is pursuing further connectivity to Tin Can Island and other strategic port and industrial locations.
“The emerging development around the Lekki axis and its proposed connections to the national railway network will further strengthen the relationship between ports, industrial centres and the wider transportation system,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the House Committee Chairman on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh, noted that transport was not just about roads, rail lines, terminals or vehicles.
“It is about people, commerce and opportunities.
“It is about whether a farmer can move produce to market without losing half of it on the way. Whether a worker can get to work without spending hours in traffic. Whether businesses can move goods across the country efficiently and at a reasonable cost.
“That is why integration matters. Nigeria already has roads, rail, waterways and aviation. We must give the same attention given to the rehabilitation of roads to our railways, as moving more heavy-duty and bulk goods by rail will reduce pressure on our highways, extend the lifespan of our roads, improve safety and lower long-term maintenance costs.
“I assure you that the National Assembly stands ready to provide the necessary legislative support and effective oversight required to move this policy from paper to practice.
“Nigeria needs a transport system where road and rail reinforce one another, where goods move efficiently, where citizens travel safely and where public investment delivers long-term value. That is the system this policy must help us build,” she stated.
