New Transport Policy Underway- FG
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to ensure better lives for all Nigerians as a new transport policy gets underway as part of efforts to galvanize the economy for sustainable development.
Transportation Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi stated this while receiving the report of the inter-ministerial committee for the finalization of the draft national transport policy, noting that the report will be considered after due consultation with relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector.
While assuring Nigerians that the present administration will ensure judicious use of funds at their disposal, he posited that the era of ghost contract is gone adding that the present administration will transform the transport industry as it is heading to digitalize the sector in the nearest future.
Earlier, the chairperson of the committee, Mrs Mfon Usoro, while presenting the report noted that the draft is a practical and pragmatic response to Nigeria’s need for an integrated, modern and efficient transportation industry that can serve vital gateway and link for Nigeria internal and external trade in Agriculture, energy, mining, oil and gas and other sectors that can depend on transport.
She revealed that the fundamental goal of the policy is to develop and adequate and safe environmentally sound, efficient, affordable, preferred, and integrated transport system within the frame work of a progressive and competitive market economy.
she added that the policy is also to establish a framework that will also guide the planning and development of transport activities in a systematic and sustainable manner for the social and economic development of Nigeria stressing that the policy harps on integrating transport with other aspect of government policy.
She said” this is a national Transport policy for Nigeria. It emphasizes the importance of integrating transport with other aspect of Government policies, it is acknowledged that the states in the federation have differing transport needs and priorities but the guiding principle in this document apply throughout the country, and it is hoped that all transport related government agencies in the Federal, state and local government will adopt and reflect the broad principles in this document into each of their respective transportation plans as appropriate “.
