Minister identifies railway modernisation, port master plan as catalyst for national development

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The Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, has identified the implementation of the 25-year railway modernization programme; The port’s master plan; Development of transport in inland waterways as drivers for the transport sector for national development.

He stated this at the just concluded 2022 Ministerial meeting with the theme: “Capacity Development and Strategy to Deliver the National Development Plan (NDP) for the Transport Sector,” in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

According to him, other drivers are Nigerian Transportation Master plan (NTM); Tariff and costs, creation of private sector – led national fleet and capacity development for crew.

The transport sector has contributed to the socio-economic needs of Nigerians and promoted the overall sustainable development of the nation,” the minister observed, adding that “the provision of transport infrastructure is and will always be ongoing for any nation seeking rapid development.”

He said, “efforts to expand and modernize the nation’s transport system which has resulted in a number of achievements in the railway, maritime and road sub-sectors”, the minister urged all stakeholders to maintain harmonious working relations as this will “galvanize the Transport sector to become more competitive, efficient and productive.”

Sambo, further revealed that he knows a lot needs to be done in the sector which the government developed “National Development Plans (Medium-Term Development Plans 2021-2025 and a Long-Term Plan called Nigeria Agenda 2050) which the ministry domesticated as the Transport Sector Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2021-2025 Policy Document, aimed at accelerating the growth of the transport sector in the country with a strategic medium-term vision statement, which is: “To have an effective, efficient, intermodal, safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport system that contributes positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy.”

To make the above possible, the Ministry intends to pursue it through improving safety and transport, safety, cooperation and synergy between transport stakeholders, professionalism and human capacity building; strengthening institutional governance and regulation; as well as multimodal infrastructure development to achieve “safe and secure transport; Drive economic development; Facilitate connectivity (intermodal and multimodal); Develop local capacity (professionalism); Ensure sustainability”

The Minister of State for Transport, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, also called on stakeholders in the transport sector to tap into the opportunities that public private partnership presents to grow the sector as they have the capital and expertise needed for growth.

He also advised that Nigeria should take full advantage of its geographical position in the West African sub-region and Africa at large to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement with which it is familiar, adding that the transport sector is a major driver. to promote intra-African trade.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Transportation, Magdalene Ajani, observed that “the transport sector is a major driver of the national development plans as the sector is essential to enhance natural integration, economic growth and unification of the country”.