Amaechi seeks review of transportation system

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called for a review of the country’s transport system.

He made the call in Abuja at the maiden meeting of commissioners of transportation.

Amaechi said the review was necessary to transform the economy to a modernised accident-free system.

He urged the states to take steps to develop their transportation system in line with global best practices.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Sabiu Zakari, represented the minister at the meeting.

According to him, the ministry was building on contributions by stakeholders to erect a unified transportation policy for the country.

He said: “The seamless transportation policy system is long overdue. The formation of this forum at this particular time is laudable.

“It would help to achieve consensus in the road transport sub-sector, which has been non-existent in the country.

Amaechi stressed that the government was collaborating with international partners in the formulation of transportation model at the federal and state levels.

He said the delay in the passage of pending bills was due to the need to work out some grey areas that might infringe on the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

The Chairman of State Commissioners of Transportation Forum, Orman Eating, said the forum would usher in harmonised policies to ensure a coordinated and standard system of operation.

The chairman added that some of the policies are to ensure that multi and illegal taxations are eradicated.

“We want to ensure that vehicles, as well as commercial motor cycles are registered with numbers of operations to end the existing multiple taxation.

Also, the commissioner for works housing and transportation, Wanda Yahaya Ahmed, said the forum would create a unified transportation law in the country.

About 32 state commissioners of transportation, including the FCT attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has disclosed plans to unveil transaction advisors for the establishment of national carrier.

It would involve the concession of the four major international airports, among other major projects in the aviation sector.

Other projects to get transaction advisers are the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), Agro-allied and Cargo Terminals, Development of Aerotropolis (Airport Cities) and establishment of Aviation Leasing Company.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Press in the Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, disclosed that the transaction advisers would be unveiled today at the 4th Aviation Stakeholders meeting.

It would be presided over by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
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