Nigeria’s transportation sector has achieved a significant milestone with the approval of the National Land Transport Policy by the Federal Executive Council.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, disclosed the good news to Nigerians in a press briefing after the FEC meeting, which took place in Abuja, adding that the policy is first of its kind since Nigeria’s independence and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight Priorities.
Alkali explained that a well-developed land transport policy is crucial for maximizing socio-economic potentials in Nigeria.
To this end, the Minister noted that the current land transport system is inadequately regulated, uncoordinated, and underutilized, limiting the sub-sector’s efficiency and negatively impacting society’s socio-economic well-being.
“After robust deliberations, the Federal Executive Council was invited to note that while the Air and Maritime modes of transport have some global regulation and oversight by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) respectively, the land transport system is vulnerable given the absence of any policy to regulate any of its operations.
“Similarly, the desirability of the Policy is recognised as a framework that will facilitate development, coordination, and administration of the land transport system in Nigeria,” explained Alkali.
The National Land Transport Policy aims to provide a legal framework for developing, coordinating, and administering the land transport system; create an organized, efficient, competitive, integrated, and sustainable land transportation system.
The policy also aims to attract private sector investments and funding, increase the land transport sub-sector’s contribution to economic growth, and enhance access to markets, domestic consumption areas, and ports for export and import.
The policy covers various aspects, including road and rail transport development, inter-modalism and connectivity, funding and partnerships, green transportation and safety, regulations, and administration.
Alkali further highlighted that the policy recognizes the significance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in attracting investments to boost the transportation sector.
The draft policy has 19 chapters, detailing implementation strategies that will be carried out by relevant federal ministries, departments, and agencies, states, the Federal Capital Territory, the private sector, and professional bodies.
Alkali further affirmed that the approval of the National Land Transport Policy marks a new era in Nigeria’s transportation sector, providing a comprehensive framework for an effective, efficient, well-coordinated, safe, secure, and affordable transport system, and contribute to the realization of the Renewed Hope Agenda and President Tinubu’s priorities.
