… Bello says infrastructure to boost transportation sector
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| Board Member, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) Senator Salisu Matori; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello; President Chartered Institute of Transport Administration Nigeria (CIoTA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. George Muoghalu and Member, Board of Trustee, CIoTA, Dr. Ikokide Zebulon at the opening of a three-day maiden National Transportation Summit organised by CIoTA in Abuja. |
The President of the Chartered Institute of
Transport Administration (CIoTA) Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, has made known the
Institute’s plans to professionalise all aspects of transportation industry in
Nigeria for sustainable development.
Dr. Jamoh said this at the opening of
a 3-Day National Transportation Summit organised by CIOTA at the Yar’ Adua
Centre in Abuja with the theme “Unlocking the Potentials of Transportation for
Sustainable Development.”
a 3-Day National Transportation Summit organised by CIOTA at the Yar’ Adua
Centre in Abuja with the theme “Unlocking the Potentials of Transportation for
Sustainable Development.”
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| Board Member, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Mr. Kenneth Asekome; Managing Director Nigerian Railway Cooperation (NRC) Mr. Fidet Okhiri; President Chartered Institute of Transport Administration Nigeria (CIoTA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; National President 2, CIoTA, Professor Calistus Ibe and Deputy Director Administration, NIMASA, Mr. Kabir Munir at the opening of a three-day National Transportation Summit organised by CIoTA in Abuja. |
According to the CIoTA President,
“with the recent assent of Mr. President recognizing the Institute as the sole
professional body in the transport industry, CIoTA will engage all stakeholders
to ensure that all those involved in transport administration in Nigeria are
certified to enhance professionalism.”
He also disclosed the
institute’s plan to engage some graduate youths already mobilised for the
National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) as transport administration volunteers.
institute’s plan to engage some graduate youths already mobilised for the
National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) as transport administration volunteers.
According to him, the volunteer group will
also work with other relevant government agencies like Federal Road Safety Corp
(FRSC) in carrying out its activities.
also work with other relevant government agencies like Federal Road Safety Corp
(FRSC) in carrying out its activities.
He added that CIoTA would conduct
research aimed at solving most of the transport challenges in the country.
research aimed at solving most of the transport challenges in the country.
Standardisation of Transport training
geared towards enhanced professionalism, according to Jamoh, will be done by
the institute through upgrading curriculum of transport training schools and
partnership.
geared towards enhanced professionalism, according to Jamoh, will be done by
the institute through upgrading curriculum of transport training schools and
partnership.
He also commended President Muhammadu
Buhari for the recent groundbreaking launch of the University of Transportation
in Daura and Katsina State and signing the CIoTA Bill into law.
Buhari for the recent groundbreaking launch of the University of Transportation
in Daura and Katsina State and signing the CIoTA Bill into law.
Also speaking at the event, the
Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, decried the
absence of seamless links in the country’s transport infrastructure while
commending government efforts at getting them fixed.
Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, decried the
absence of seamless links in the country’s transport infrastructure while
commending government efforts at getting them fixed.
Bello said there must be a link between
economy and transportation in Nigeria if the economy must move faster with its
peers.
economy and transportation in Nigeria if the economy must move faster with its
peers.
According to him, CIoTA holds the
answer to several of Nigeria’s lingering transport issues since it is
organised, devoid of unhealthy rivalry and not having any distraction like
leadership tussles.
answer to several of Nigeria’s lingering transport issues since it is
organised, devoid of unhealthy rivalry and not having any distraction like
leadership tussles.
Nigeria, Bello said, is in the era of
diversification of national revenue sources and the transport sector is
supportive of other businesses including creation of much needed employments.
diversification of national revenue sources and the transport sector is
supportive of other businesses including creation of much needed employments.
He said Apapa
and Tin Can Ports that had 24m metric tonnes capacity for cargo
handling, presently handles over 89m metric tonnes which gets them
overstretched.
and Tin Can Ports that had 24m metric tonnes capacity for cargo
handling, presently handles over 89m metric tonnes which gets them
overstretched.
He added that linking the ports with
rail and pipelines would bridge existing gaps in cargo delays and address the
perennial traffic in Apapa area of Lagos.
rail and pipelines would bridge existing gaps in cargo delays and address the
perennial traffic in Apapa area of Lagos.
The Executive Secretary suggested
that the whole of Apapa should be handed over to Nigeria Ports Authority as a
way of getting it organised.
that the whole of Apapa should be handed over to Nigeria Ports Authority as a
way of getting it organised.
NPA, according to him, should
determine who does what and in which area of the port environment.
determine who does what and in which area of the port environment.
He said an issue as sensitive ad
transport should not be left to non-professionals as Transport connects people
and businesses and should be a thing of pride to citizens.
transport should not be left to non-professionals as Transport connects people
and businesses and should be a thing of pride to citizens.
He decried that Nigeria is the only
country whose crude is carried at Free On Board (FOB) carriage mode causing
huge loss of freight components amounting to billions on Naira.
country whose crude is carried at Free On Board (FOB) carriage mode causing
huge loss of freight components amounting to billions on Naira.
