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| Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, while briefing newsmen in Abuja |
The Federal Government is set to have the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) become the National Transport Commission (NTC).
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) become the National Transport Commission (NTC).
The Honorable Minister of Transportation, Mr.
Rotimi Amaechi, made this known on Wednesday
in Abuja at a news conference on the achievement of the ministry.
Rotimi Amaechi, made this known on Wednesday
in Abuja at a news conference on the achievement of the ministry.
He said that the National Assembly had passed a bill that Shippers’
Council should be transformed to a commission, adding that the bill was
currently awaiting presidential assent to become a law.
Council should be transformed to a commission, adding that the bill was
currently awaiting presidential assent to become a law.
“Senate has passed the bill that converts Nigerian Shippers’ Council to National Transport Commission (NTC), the bill is
currently waiting for the assent of the President.
currently waiting for the assent of the President.
“When NTC is signed into law it will be capable of setting the transport
sector on the path of positive development,’’ he said.
sector on the path of positive development,’’ he said.
Amaechi said it would also create a multi-modal transport sector
economic and safety oversight commission that would drive the national
transport policy.
economic and safety oversight commission that would drive the national
transport policy.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian
Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan
Bello, said that plans were ongoing to commence building of the TTPs in Enugu
and Kogi states.
Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan
Bello, said that plans were ongoing to commence building of the TTPs in Enugu
and Kogi states.
Bello noted that Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) is privately driven, adding
that NSC was working with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to achieve that.
that NSC was working with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and
Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to achieve that.
He said that plans were being concluded with ICRC, adding that in
two-weeks there would be expression of interest to the private sector to come
and bid.
two-weeks there would be expression of interest to the private sector to come
and bid.
“So far we have two that are coming, the one at Enugu, Enugu state Government
has donated land to NSC and the one in Lokoja, the Kogi state government has
also donated land to NSC.
has donated land to NSC and the one in Lokoja, the Kogi state government has
also donated land to NSC.
“We are concluding with ICRC and soon, in two weeks time the private
sector will come and bid.
sector will come and bid.
“As soon as the biding is done, construction will take about 16 months
for us to complete the Truck Transit Parks in those two locations.
for us to complete the Truck Transit Parks in those two locations.
“There are others coming up, we have heard that there’s a tremendous
response by international investors and many states have expressed interest to
have TTPs.
response by international investors and many states have expressed interest to
have TTPs.
“We need to have more transport infrastructures and the Federal Ministry
of Transport is supporting this.”
of Transport is supporting this.”
Bello, who also spoke on dry ports in the country, said that the dry
ports were established to avoid the mistakes of the seaports where there were
congestions.
ports were established to avoid the mistakes of the seaports where there were
congestions.
He said the council plan to operate 24 hours services so that goods can
be cleared within 48 hours.
be cleared within 48 hours.
He added that the Council was working with the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) and other relevant agencies to make sure that everything takes effect.
(NPA) and other relevant agencies to make sure that everything takes effect.
“The success of dry port depends on rail connection, we need locomotives
and NRC has promised to give us at least ten locomotives to Kaduna, because
there are cargos there.
and NRC has promised to give us at least ten locomotives to Kaduna, because
there are cargos there.
“We need the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and
the Kaduna State government to complete the access roads so that there won’t be
challenges,” he said.
the Kaduna State government to complete the access roads so that there won’t be
challenges,” he said.
