I am delighted to be present at the 8th Edition of this Annual transport Lecture organized by Transport Day Newspaper. This laudable initiative solely driven by a non-governmental organization to showcase the potentials of the transportation sector despite the current precarious state of the world is commendable and worth emulating.
- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, transportation is key to human existence as a man was naturally created to explore his environment and satisfy its inherent cravings. Therefore, transportation constitutes a significant factor in the sustainable development of any community, society or nation. It permeates many economic sectors, facilitates international trades, supports food security, delivers energy and enables industrial and infrastructural development. It generates employment and helps create prosperity.
- It is in the recognition of the critical role transportation plays that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari decided to leverage the transport sector as a backbone to industrialize and diversify the Nigerian economy. This administration is diligently focused on reviving the transportation sector in its entirety through the rehabilitation of existing transport infrastructure, provision of new ones as well as ensuring capacity building.
- Distinguished Participants, as you may be aware, the federal government through the Federal Ministry Of Transportation has adopted a systematic dual approach of rehabilitating existing Narrow Gauge Rail lines simultaneously with the development of the Standard Gauge Rail lines geared towards the modernization and system stabilization of the railways for freight and passenger services.
- These efforts are evident in the modernization of the rail sub-sector where 859km of Standard Gauge Rail lines have been constructed and commissioned for commercial use over the last five years. Furthermore, groundbreaking ceremonies have been organized for the commencement of the construction of the two new rail corridors: Kano-Maradi (Niger Republic) and the Port Harcourt (South-south) to Maiduguri (North-East) corridors.
- Many other strides have been achieved in other modes of transportation in recent times; the National Transport Policy (NTP) is receiving a lot of attention at the FEC committee; the National Assembly has passed and Mr President has signed into law an act for the fight against Piracy and Maritime criminality; the deployment of the Deep Blue Maritime Security Infrastructure is at an advanced stage; Plans are at an advanced stage at putting our inland waterways to more economic use; the Road subsector is currently undergoing a transformation to ensure a safe, secure, reliable, efficient, affordable, intermodal and environmentally sustainable road transport for all.
- To encourage professionalism in the sector, the Ministry’s academic institutions are being reformed to meet international standards to ensure that there is a steady stream of competent certified transport professionals and administrators.
- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it will interest you to note that the ministry is making efforts at implementing the five (5) deliverables signed at the inception of the current administration of Mr President, and is also striving to leave a significant legacy in the execution of its priority projects.
- The Ministry is aware that an effective and efficient transportation system is required for the prosperity of the nation. We are therefore poised to achieve this within available financial resources. I however implore you all to join the train of development as our collaborative effort will facilitate the necessary progress in the sector.
- Finally, I urge all participants to enjoy the ambience of the hotel, brainstorm and chart out new implementable strategies that will engender a transportation system that is safe, integrated, smart and self-sustaining.
- Thank you and God bless.
