A Communiqué Issued At The End Of The 8th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture, Organised By Transport Day Newspaper, Held At Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos On The 21st May 2021

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Theme:  “Improving Nigeria Transportation Systems: The Way Forward”

  1. The 8th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture acknowledged poor cold chain logistics, poor road infrastructure, non-implementation of related policies and other factors as important challenges to hindering an efficient transport system which is a tool for economic development. 
  2. The Lecture acknowledged that National Transport Policy (NTP) is an important guideline for a good transportation system and should be seen as an economic decision, not just to be initiated by the government but needs total implementation, 29 years after draft. 
  3. The Lecture highlighted the expediency for Nigeria’s transportation system to adopt an inter-modal transport system across the country, which must include air, road, rail, water and pipeline, in order to exploit the huge profit opportunities in the integrated transport market for economic growth. 
  4. The Lecture recommended inter-agency collaboration, including FRSC, police, etc for the inter-modal transport system to work. The Lecture also highlighted the need to expand and upgrade existing air travel infrastructures so as to boost confidence in the industry with respect to air safety; encourage more investments to bring about healthy competition such that more people can opt for the mode as against the road especially for long-distance travel. 
  5. For the Nigerian transport system to be attractive to investors, the Lecture recommends that there should be reduced pressure on-road transportation which currently accounts for about 95 per cent utilisation. 
  6. The Lecture observes that road crashes have increased in recent times, due to high dependence on road transport, speed and other factors. 
  7. Commended the present Nigerian Government which has demonstrated good efforts in turning around the rail sectors which is now wearing a new look, evident in 859 km of standard gauge rail lines which have been constructed and commissioned for commercial use in the last 5 years. 
  8. Nigeria should take advantage of the water transport system by dredging all identified potential waterways in the country to improve safety and enhance navigation amongst others. 
  9. The Federal Government should continue to improve on the existing security framework to enhance investors and customers confidence in all modes of transportation in the country.
  10. The Lecture emphasised the importance of Blue Economy, informing that Nigeria is rich in maritime resources and that the development of our maritime potentials will be a bold step towards economic diversification for job creation, addressing insecurity and positioning our ports for hub status in the West and Central African regions.
  11. The lecture acknowledged that Nigeria has joined the league of nations committed to the Electric Car Revolution, committed to protecting the environment and ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future. And that the National Automotive Design and Development Council NADDC is committed to the adoption and production of highly advanced technology transportation solutions, through the following initiatives and programs:

Electric Vehicle Policy Development; NADDC direct Research and Development; Promotion and support of stakeholder production; Development of Charging Infrastructure and Collaboration with academia and research institutions (both local and international).

  1. The lecture disclosed the fact that the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has taken the role of reducing the cost of construction through Research and Development and Innovation and that the Institute has played a key role in the provision of alternative construction equipment and also reduce import substitution. And that NBRRI impact on the economy can be felt in the following areas of its Research and Development: Capacity Building; Import Substitution; Study Of Engineering Characteristics Of Subgrade Soils For Economic Pavement Design; Infrastructural Development; Wealth Creation and Employment Creation. 
  2. The lecture highlighted the importance of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) with its initiation and implementation of projects/programmes with particular bearing on the business prospects of auto-MSMEs which is now about 41 million in number which is 80 % of the total number of enterprises in the country. 
  3. The Lecture acknowledged that there is an urgent need to invest in the Cold Chain sector to assist the diversification effort of government, estimating that Nigeria can save $9 billion annually by avoiding spoilage of goods through transportation of the refrigerated products. 
  4. The session acknowledged the important roles played by the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the need for motorists to fully embrace the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) initiated by the FRSC to enhance Operator, Driver and Vehicle Safety standards on fleet operations in the country.

Papers were presented by 

  • Chairman, Governing Council Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Olorogun John Onojeharho; On Cold Chain Logistics
  • Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi MFR; On 
  • Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu MFR (presented virtually); On Electric Vehicles
  • Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Dr Dikko Radda; On Contributions of SMEDAN to Transport Sector. (Represented by Mr Yinka Fisher, Lagos State Coordinator of SMEDAN)
  • National President of Association Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Nwabunike; On Benefits of Blue Economy
  • Director-General of Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna; On Impact of NBRRI on the Economy. 
  • Goodwill Message from the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi 

NB:

The 9th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture holds in the second quarter of 2022. Follow on www.translecture.com AND www.transportday.com.ng

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