SGF, stakeholders canvass professionalism in transport sector

To ensure efficiency in the transportation sector, stakeholders at the sixth National Transport Conference emphasised the need to change the narratives through high professionalism in the industry.

The industry experts who expressed concerns over the incessant road crashes and sea mishaps noted that the porosity of the industry that allows individuals with little or no knowledge to venture into the business is one of the leading factors responsible for the unpleasant development.

The Secretary General of the Federation, George Akume, while declaring open the two-day conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), stressed the need to raise the professional standard in the transportation industry.

According to him, the transport industry is expected to uphold the kind of rigorous professional standards in fields such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

He said: “Practicing in this field should come with its level of prestige, responsibility, and qualifications. We owe it to ourselves and to our nation to build a transport sector known for its professionalism, its expertise, and its service to the public.”

Corroborating the same thing, President, CIOTA, Dr Segun Obayendo, stated that the transport sector is for professionals and not for everyone, saying: “Until we make this statement loud and clear and run the sector as professionals, we will not get to where we are going.”

He stressed that the institute is not comfortable with the image gotten from the roads and seas due to the incessant crashes, saying this is why professionalism must be emphasized.

The CIOTA President said it’s important to change the narratives and bring in adequate regulations, licensing, regulations, and code of conduct to guide operators.

He said: “The transport sector should not take anything less than professionals. We want a transport sector that will require rigorous processes to come in and not the way it is currently structured. We want a sector where people will adhere to the rules because they know the consequences.”

Obayendo harped on the need for an intelligent transport system that is handled by professionals, such that you cannot be a boat rider without proper certification.

To achieve this, he harped on the need for strong regulations, ensuring that officials of the Ministry of Transportation in the sub-national are professionalised to deliver an efficient system.

He commended the current administration for completing the Land Transport Policy Draft and preparing to forward it to the Federal Executive Council, saying the policy will help shape a well-defined framework for the country’s transport sector.

He said the policy emphasised the importance of professionalism in the sector, adding that it will provide an environment where transport professionals can thrive, as well as raise the standard of land transport.

He assured that they intend to build a transport system that is purposeful, orderly, and sustainable, a system that enriches the lives of all Nigerians. Speaking on the theme of the conference, Sustainable transportation in a destructive era, the challenges of developing economies, the SGF stated that with the rapid technological challenges, population growth, and the demands of sustainable development, we must make bold moves to transform our transportation landscape for generations to come.

The Minister of Transportation, Sa’id Alkali, in his address, emphasised the need for optimisation of technology in the sector, saying: “Technology is an essential part of the modern world, and in transportation, it must be an active agent for order and progress. Technology has the power to improve efficiency, safety, and user experience, and it is high time we harness this potential in every corner of the sector.”

He emphasised that whether in logistics, passenger services, or urban planning the need to leverage technology to create the kind of organised and orderly transport system that befits a developing economy as well as cities that people deserve.