CIoTA to push policy advancing integration of transportation modes

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· As Summit holds December 3

·Salami, Asoluka, Others set to speak

Dr. Bashir Jamoh

The Chartered Institute of Transport
Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA) will make the push for policy to enable
seamless integration of the different modes of transportation in the country a
focal point at its 2019 National Transport Summit.

This is as the Chairman Presidential
Economic Council Dr. Doyin Salami is set to lead other speakers at the event.

The President of CIoTA.Dr. Bashir Jamoh,
who disclosed this in Lagos, said the focus of the event would be to help improve
cargo movement from the ports to final destinations.

The summit, themed, “Unlocking the
Potentials of Transportation for Sustainable Development,” will hold December 3
– 5 at the Musa Yar’Adua Conference Centre in Abuja.

Jamoh, who is also Executive
Director, Finance and Administration, Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA), said the summit would create an avenue to address the
silo nature of the modes of transportation in the country, which have not been
beneficial to the trade supply chain.

He said, “During the summit, CIoTA
will be addressing a key issue of how best we can get the needed value in the
supply chain, because trade is only complete when goods can get to their final
destination in efficient manner.

“We can see that the challenge has
been the non-integrated approach of the various transportation modes, making it
difficult for movement of goods from the ports to various locations.

“We shall be looking at solutions
that would integrate the road, rail, air, and water transport systems. We are
looking to push for policy to uphold seamless integration of the transport
modes to support trade, in terms of easy movement of cargo across locations.”

Jamoh added, “One good way to go in
seeking solution to the perennial gridlock in the port city of Apapa, Lagos, is
to turn to the railway and barges for the movement of containers, rather than
remain stuck with road transportation alone.

“The issue of when we have to be
using rail trucks to move cargo from the ports outside will be paramount in
terms of policy, advisory, human capacity, and skill acquisition for our own
members, who are in different agencies in the maritime industry.”

The CIoTA president emphasised the
need for the expansion of the ports, saying the present Apapa and Tin-Can
Island ports have lost spaces, where containers would have been, to
concessionaires, who are in charge of the terminals.

Paper deliveries, technical sessions,
and panel discussions at the summit will cover a wide range of topics on the
transport challenge.

Dignitaries expected at the summit,
which has President Muhammadu Buhari as Special Guest of Honour, include the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Aviation,
Mr. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and
Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemi Saraki, who are Guests of
Honour.

Also expected to speak is the
Chairman Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Dr. Doyin Salam, while other speakers include Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Founder,
Centre for Value in Leadership, Professor Pat Utomi; Managing Director of
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; as well as retired Merchant Navy Captain, Emmanuel
Iheanacho , The Managing Director Nigerian Railway Corporation , Engr. Fidet Okhiria, Prof.
Innocent Ogwude and Chris Asoluka, Chairman Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone.