Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr Nebolisa Emodi, has urged stakeholders in the transport sector to work towards strengthening the industry for a diversified and competitive economy.
Emodi made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi when he declared open the technical session for the 12th National Council on Transport.
The permanent secretary tasked the stakeholders on concrete input in order to move the sector forward.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr Nebolisa Emodi, has urged stakeholders in the transport sector to work towards strengthening the industry for a diversified and competitive economy.
Emodi made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi when he declared open the technical session for the 12th National Council on Transport.
The permanent secretary tasked the stakeholders on concrete input in order to move the sector forward.
Emodi, who was represented by Mr Badamasi Gamawa, the Director, Special Duties in the Ministry, urged the stakeholders to deliberate critically on the challenges facing the country, especially in the area of infrastructure.
According to him, the provision of infrastructure is key towards achieving the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.
Emodi also called on the stakeholders to look into areas of funding for infrastructure and safety in the transport sector as well as training and capacity building.
“It is expected that your contributions should be guided by the overall desire to take the Nigerian transport sector to a higher level so that it can adequately support a dynamic, robust, diversified, modern and competitive economy of the 21st century.’’
Mr Benjamin Ashaver, the Commissioner for Works and Transport in Benue, stressed the need for the country to have diversified transport modes to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals in the transport sector.
Ashaver commended the Federal Government for adopting this year’s theme “Partnership for Integrated Transport Infrastructure for National Transformation.’’
According to him, the theme is aimed at integrating all the transport modes for national transformation.
He recalled that during the colonial era, rail, water, as well as road transportation contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political development of the state.
Ashaver expressed regret that the water and rail transportation presently suffered a setback resulting to diminished economic and social life of the people.
The commissioner appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the dredging of River Benue as well as the construction of Makurdi river port.
He emphasised the need to integrate the various transport modes available to facilitate easy movement of goods and services.
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