CDS, experts advocate improved transport services in Nigeria

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, among other stakeholders in the transport and logistics sector, has advocated the need for improved and efficient transport services in the country

The experts said a well-planned society where transportation is taken seriously has options for citizens to travel either by road, rail, water, or air transportation.

The CDS who opened the 2024 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) conference, emphasised the need to do more with Nigeria’s transport sector.

He noted that an efficient transportation system is key in any operation, saying transport and logistics are the pillars of an effective structure that delivers results even in war against criminalities.

Musa expressed optimism that the conference would proffer solutions to improve the transportation sector.

The President of the CILT, Mfon Ekong Usoro identified the implementation of the National Transportation Policy as a solution to the difficult, expensive, and unavailable means of conveying goods, services, and people from one destination to another in Nigeria.

They identified the nonexistence of an effective transportation model in the country as one of the major causes of the rising cost of commodities in the marketplace.

She called on the Federal government to implement the Transport Policy to enable development and competitiveness in the industry.

She said the policy will integrate transport planning and implementation. “Attaining a coordinated, collaborative, integrated transport system is a shared responsibility of the ministries in charge of the transport sub-sectors and citizens.

“We can achieve this only if Nigeria has a National Transport Policy. A final Draft of the National Transport Policy was produced in 2022,” she said.

“The Policy Provides for integrated transport planning, operation, implementation, and enforcement chapters for each transport mode with the intention that the respective modes will develop detailed implementation policies that align with the globally agreed policy imperatives.”

The keynote speaker, Dr. George Banjo, insisted that the implementation of the National Transport Policy will push the different segments of the sector to improve their performance due to adequate supervision.

He said the implementation will also reduce inconsistencies that have hindered efficiency, competition, and easy access in the transportation chain in Nigeria.

The Institute honoured the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Pius Akutah for his contribution towards the transport and logistics sector as NIS has supported members of the institute immeasurably.

CILT noted that the council was playing a critical role in developing the transport system in Nigeria.

Alongside Akutah, the Chief of Defense Staff, amongst others, received awards for the roles they played in improving the transport system in Nigeria.