Abuja: The Federal Government has restated its commitment to strengthening national policy towards sustainable growth in the transportation sector. Dr. Segun Obayendo, the Chairman of the Governing Council at the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), highlighted this during a news conference about the upcoming 6th National Transport Conference in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference themed ‘Sustainable Transportation in a Disruptive Era: The Challenges of Developing Economy’ is set to take place from November 12 to 13 in Abuja. Obayendo emphasized that an effective policy and regulatory framework would be institutionalized to advance the nation’s transportation sector, aiming to reduce congestion and enhance urban and rural connectivity. This effort is expected to address current challenges and foster sustainable growth in the transportation sector.
“The theme itself encapsulates the dual challenge of maintaining sustainability while navigating through a period of un
precedented disruption in the transport sector,” Obayendo remarked. He pointed out that the sector is at a pivotal point where traditional methods meet innovative technology, environmental imperatives intersect with economic growth, and policy meets practice. The summit promises to dissect these complexities, offering insights from global experts, local innovators, and policymakers.
Dr. Obayendo noted that Nigeria’s roads and highways are crucial, handling 90 percent of all passenger and freight traffic. In response, the government is determined to establish a robust national data bank for the transportation sector. This data bank will function as a hub for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating transport-related data to support informed decision-making and policy formulation.
Objectives of the data bank include monitoring transport and logistics activities in Nigeria, providing transport intelligence to stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Transport and its agencies, and offering data analytic
services to support evidence-based planning and policy decisions. The data bank is expected to enhance transport planning and policy formulation, improve transport infrastructure development, increase efficiency in transport operations, and facilitate better decision-making for stakeholders.
Prof. Samuel Odewumi, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the upcoming 6th National Transport Conference, stated that the conference aims to revamp transportation infrastructure in developing economies like Nigeria. He mentioned that the conference will serve as a platform for robust discussions, with resource persons presenting case studies, data-driven analysis, and forward-thinking solutions. The stakeholders will focus on propelling the transportation sector into a new era of efficiency, sustainability, and inclusiveness.
Prof. Odewumi added that the conference’s major focus would be on the current state of transportation in developing countries, human and cultural issues in transportation, as well as disruptive
technologies, innovations, and governance.