‘How Nigeria can optimise AfCFTA through transport, logistics’

For Nigeria to fully enjoy the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it must prepare and strengthen its transport and logistics sector for efficient continental services.
   
In view of this, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani sues for cooperation among stakeholders in the sector, for the nation to take its rightful place in the continental trade.

Ajani, who spoke at the 2021 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Nigeria (CILT) fellows and corporate members forum held in Lagos, said the transport professionals and groups should harmonise ideas and programmes to ensure a seamless transportation sector.

“We should all work together to position the industry to be highly professional, we would have efficient service delivery and improvement in the sector. It take all the transportation modes- land, water, rail and air to come together to make a functional intermodal, seamless transport sector in Nigeria,” she said.
   
The CILT inducted new members to contribute to the development of transportation in Nigeria. Among the inductees are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani and the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh Yusuf among others.
   
Co-Champion, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Mrs Olufumilayo Folorunsho, in he presentation, said Nigeria is in a unique position and it must optimise the opportunities in AfCFTA.
   
She emphasised that Nigeria should exploit the relevant areas in the domestic transportation policy and all related laws that would enable the nation to play active role in AfCFTA.
 
Folorunsho further urged the CILT to optimise it’s strength in the logistic and transportation space; andpriortise the already identified opportunities.
   
President, CILT, Barr Mfon Ekong Usoro, said the immediate goal of the current council of CILT Nigeria was to transform logistics and transport in Nigeria to align with global and continental trends with a focus on technology, growing domestic capacity and strengthening the regulatory deficit that is a sine qua non for the growth and competitiveness of the industry.
   
To this end, she said CILT has intensified efforts to deepen and broaden relationship with government and key private sector operators for all the modes including educational institutions who have partnered with the institute for training.
   
She said the institute has concluded negotiation of Memorandum of Agreement with another top-notch university, which will be implemented very soon.
   
Usoro said Nigeria should not only be viewed as the largest man to be exploited by its trade partners, but should evolve to be the logistics hub for the continent.