.President, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh flanked by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council Barr. Hassan Bello (L) and Dean Faculty Of Environmental Management, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Prof. Bamidele Badejo during the ongoing National Transport Summit Organised by CIoTA in Abuja.
The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), says the institute has begun the process of making transportation a professional sector in the country.
Dr Bashir Jamoh, the National President and Chairman of Council made this known during the 2nd National Transport Summit, annual general meeting and Governing Council inauguration in Abuja on Tuesday
The theme of the meeting is: “Building Sustainable Transport Infrastructure in Nigeria: Opportunities, Innovation and Technologies’’.
Jamoh said the move was to ensure that the sector achieved the global best standards and practices.
The national president said that CIOTA was making effort to start the journey of making the transition toward a more professional transport sector
“If you don’t have what it takes, then you don’t have business to hold a position of transportation professionals within the industry.
“I am glad today having established and elected new council members, the journey begins with a transport development tripod.
“The three tripods are professionalism, training and education while the third is advocacy.
“Under the professionalism, the institute will work hard with the Federal Government in ensuring that they develop a curriculum to enable only members of the institution get recognition to occupy positions in the transport sector.
“Professionalism will become paramount to tackle the challenges of infrastructure, maintenance and sustainability which was caused by low professionalism within the workforce.
“It is the duty of the institute from today to work with the Head of Service to ensure only those who are professional with prerequisite expertise and speed can man the various positions in any of transportation organisations.”
The President of CIOTA, who is also the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said that there was need to acquire the certification of the institute before joining any public office in transport sector.
He advised interested people in joining transport business to get certificated before embarking on transport business.
Jamoh said the institute would draw up a curriculum to keep the professionals abreast of professionalism in the transport sector.
The national president said that after getting approval of from the Ministry of Education that challenges in the sector would be “things of the past’’.
He said that the Federal Government through the Minister of Transportation had invested in modern technology in the sector, adding that there was need to professionally manage transportation business.
The Minister of Aviation, Capt. Mr Hadi Sirika, who was represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Air Space Management Authority (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu identified aging equipment as one of the challenges facing the sector.
Sirika said that aviation sector was able to meet up with global standards with the establishment of the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He said that there was need to establish business model that would make the transport industry research sustained, improving infrastructure and services through PPP.
The Executive Secretary, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello in his goodwill message, urged CIOTA to regulate and control the practice of professional transport management and administration.
Bello said that this would help the underlined transport profession to boost the economy of the country.
The council official said that transport was key and important, “especially now that the county needs to diversify our economy’’.
“It is important we look at that transport sector that is able to generate over N7 trillion per annum and if we do that it means we are creating modern transport infrastructure and massive employments.
“There is need to be specific to enable transport infrastructure positively affect the economy, especially as we are going into Africa Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“On the cost of production, we spent more 40 per cent on transportation, this should not be so, it should be less than that: we should be looking at 17 per cent, so that we free other resources on collective productive services.
“Nigeria has to be a producing and exporting nation which must be competitive that is why we need to develop our infrastructure to ease time of doings business,” he said.
The Corps Marshal, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, represented by Deputy Corp Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle, Mr Kenneth Nwegbe commended the institute.
Oyeyemi said the institute was commended for identifying the important direction of transport needed and activating it in the choice of the theme of the summit.
He said that transportation was a key driver of national development leading to the rapid industrialisation, economic growth and national transformation.
Oyeyemi said that transport sector was important component of the global economy where opportunities had increasingly been related to the mobility of people and freight including information and communication technologies.
The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NACA), Capt. Musa Nuhu said the Minister of Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, had taken a bold step in establishing a roadmap for aviation sector.
Nuhu, who was represented by Mr Mustapha Yerima, said that the establishment of the roadmap had actualised sustainability of developing infrastructure of establishing four main international airport.
Nuhu said these include building of new terminals in Lagos, Abuja and upgrading Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna airports.
He said that aviation sector was working toward establishing runway at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, acquisition of trainer aircraft for Nigeria Aollege of Aviation Technology, Zaria upgrading of air Navigation facilities among others.
The former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration (NMA), Dr Ferdinand Agu said it had been estimated in 2020 that Nigeria would be the third or fourth most populous country in the world.
Agu said that it was delightful that Nigeria was working toward producing the number of professionals committed to moving the nation in terms of efficiency to man the transportation sector.
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