The Federal Ministry of Transportation has organized its 2nd Annual Road Stakeholders Workshop on strategies to increase the contribution of Road Transportation to the economy with the theme “Role of Road Transportation in the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan”.
The opening ceremony of the 2- day workshop was held Thursday, December 14th 2017 in the Akwa Ibom State Capital, Uyo.
The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in his remark said the objectives of the workshop are to explore more opportunities to effectively engage the public, private sector, and all relevant stakeholders in the development of the much needed
sophisticated transportation infrastructure, and the enabling
environment that will make road transportation contribute immensely to
the Nation’s Economy.
Amaechi stated that the 1st Workshop was organized in 2016 with the theme “Regulation of Road Transport and Mass Transit Operations and Management in Nigeria” with the focus to Review the contents and operational modalities of road transport management and mass transit in Nigeria, Identify the gaps in Management and mass transit in
Nigeria, Appraise the roles, responsibilities and duties of road
transport institutions at Local, States and Federal levels amongst others.
Reviewing the resolutions reached at the 2016 Road Stakeholders workshop, Rotimi Amaechi opined that it has led to the actualization of several policy milestones such as; the Development of a National Road Transport Operators’ Manual as a guide to achieving safety,
security and regulation in commercial motor vehicle operations in the country, provision of platform for Private Sector to showcase their innovations to critical Stakeholders in order to achieve a buy-in and deliver on Intelligent Transport System (ITS) applications in service
delivery, Engendering efforts towards the implementation of the Inter-State-Road Transit (ISRT) Scheme approved by ECOWAS as guarantee processes for goods transiting Littoral to Land-Locked
countries of the Sub-region.
According to the Minister, “the Ministry is mindful of the need to develop two major areas in national road transport and transit management”. These are the Trans-border Corridor Operations and Mass Transport Delivery which would on the long run lead to ease of doing business in Nigeria with Border Countries and encourage sustainable
Mass Transit System.
In his opening remarks, the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing,
Babatunde Raji Fashola represented by Dr. Famous Eseduwo, Director Planning, Research and Statistics in his Ministry stated that the theme of this year Stakeholders Workshop was apt as road transport is the bedrock for the movement of goods and services in Nigeria being that the development goals of any Government is based on how effective it can move goods and services from industrial areas to the end users
either in urban or rural settings.
Fashola disclosed that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has prioritized its road development programme so that roads leading to
centers with high economic , Ports, agriculture and mineral producing
areas are given high priorities in the allocation of funds in its yearly appropriation.
Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah in his submission, said that corrupt Ministers, Governors, and National Assembly Members have turned constituency projects and village roads into Federal roads thereby creating problem of management of these roads.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sabiu Zakari gave the vote of thanks.
Other important personalities present at the workshop are the Dep. Chair, House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Segun Adekoya, representative of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Rt. Hon. Orman Esien, Hon. Commissioner of Transport and Petroleum, Akwa Ibom State, representative of the FRSC, Asst. Corp Marshall, Kayode Olagunju, representative of Minister of Budget and National Planning, Dr.Effiong Essien, Senior Special Assistant to the President on (ERGP Implementation), National President of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alh. Dr. Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya.
National President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Najeem Usman Yasin, other critical Stakeholders amongst others.
