Notable maritime industry stakeholders have called on the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi to approach the National Assembly and ensure that the proposed National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill as well as other transport industry Bills are passed into law. The stakeholders also called for the establishment of a National Transport Policy, to drive the Nigerian transportation sector.
Speaking at an Inaugural Transport Leadership Lecture organized by Kings Communications Limited in Lagos yesterday, Former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, Professor David Adamu Baike observed that Nigeria’s transport sector is not what it ought to be. He said Nigeria is losing millions of Naira resulting from operating a very poor transport system both nationally and internationally.
The event also witnessed the Nigerian Shippers Council being presented an award as the best maritime agency of the year 2015. The award was received by Executive Secretary of the council, Barrister Hassan Bello, who was represented by Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Research; Mr. Gordian Ihuoma
Delivering a lecture titled; Driving Change with Leadership in Transport Industry, Prof Baike said that the Transport Minister needs to have the blueprint on transport in place and provide the wherewithal that would drive the change agenda of the Federal Government. He observed that as for now, the transport industry is still highly pedestrian.
He said that Rotimi Amaechi alone cannot implement the work in the transport sector, urging the entire stakeholders in the sector to join hands and support him to achieve success.
“There is no doubt that the transport industry in Nigeria needs a new direction, but the leader cannot of his own make the change happen in the absence of inspiration from those that own the industry and are willing to make things happen”
“There is a great future for the transportation industry in Nigeria, there is the land mass, our population is increasing in leaps and bounds, people and agricultural products are waiting to be moved from one end of the country to the other safely; all what is required is for us to have the blueprint on transport in place” he said
Continuing, he surmised that Nigeria does not have an integrated policy on transportation system in the country and these accounts for chaos that is characteristic of our experiences while travelling within the country”
A panel of discussants who spoke at the lecture however harped on the need for the National Transport Commission Bill to be passed.
One of them, Barrister Emeka Akabogu said that in setting agenda for the transport ministry, there is need to take a look at the National Transport Commission Bill. He recalled that the Bill, as well as the National Transport Policy was discussed at the national conference in 2014, but it is yet to be implemented by government.
“I am aware that immediately the new minister was in place, the Petroleum Industry Bill was dusted up and sent to the National Assembly, but the NTC Bill I am not aware it is being commissioned or if it would be commissioned in the next couple of months”
“The agenda for transport which I would set for the minister would be to establish a transport policy for Nigeria” he said
Also speaking, the Chairman of Port Consultative Council (PCC); Otunba Kunle Folarin, stressed that there must be a master plan for the transport sector.
He said, “What we are having today could be likened to an animal kingdom where there is no pattern. Baro rail lines were laid because there was agricultural produce in Baro, rail lines led to Enugu because of the coal, there was justification for these projects, hence we don’t want our leaders to be emotional to projects, but to do the needful, and leadership with emotion cannot deliver”
On her part, Chairperson of the occasion, Barrister Margaret Orakwusi urged all players in the sector to corporate with the ministry of transport in turning the sector around.
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