Experts in the nation’s transportation sector, on Tuesday, said Nigeria is currently faced with huge infrastructural gaps that have hindered its desire to exploit her rich natural and human resources.
This was disclosed at the 2022 Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics (CILT), conference tagged: “Sustainable Innovation in Global Logistics and Transport,” held in Lagos.
The event which was attended by transport and logistics experts across the country, however, said the country must timely invest in emerging technological innovations on transport equipment, methods, practices and deploy relevant infrastructure in the transport system that will make them competitive.
However, giving his opening remarks, the minister of transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Sambo, urged transport researchers and regulators to collaborate and mine innovative strategies that would aid in sustaining and developing the nation’s transportation sector.
Sambo, who was represented by the deputy director, Research and Statistic of the ministry, Ibrahim Biu, disclosed that the federal government is making concerted efforts to establish critical Transport Infrastructure for a Sustainable Transport and Logistics.
The minister, also disclosed that the port reform programme of the administration was geared towards decongesting the seaports, and taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters.
“The recent Dala Inland Dry Port declaration as Port of Origin and destination is a major milestone in that regard. In the same vein, measures are being put in place to ensure ease of doing business at the ports. There has been a massive shift for the connection of the rail, road and maritime subsector to reduce road traffic congestion and increase the competitive edge of the transport and logistics sector.
“A lot still needs to be done to develop the logistics and transport industry of our dear country. I, therefore, call on transport researchers and transport regulators to collaborate and use this platform to mine innovative strategies that would aid in sustaining and developing the transportation sector. I am optimistic that CILT Nigeria will do well in passing its wealth of knowledge to effectively support the Industry.”
Speaking earlier, the former managing director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adebayo Sarunmi, said lack of infrastructure has hindered Nigeria from exploiting her rich natural and human resources.
He said, “The availability, adequacy and the efficient deployment of transport facilities are at the heart of logistics. These conditions are not just necessary at the point of interchange (ports) but must seamlessly lock into the intermodal transport system of moving cargo to final destinations hinterland to effect robust desired results.
“Nations willing to grow must follow up and embrace innovations that deploy new ways of doing things more efficiently. They must timely invest in emerging technological innovations on transport equipment, methods, practices and deploy relevant infrastructure in the transport system that will make them competitive.”
“Transport infrastructure remains germane to the promotion of economic growth, improved standard of living, poverty reduction, enhanced productivity and improved competitiveness. Nigeria is currently faced with huge infrastructural gaps that have hindered its desire to exploit her rich natural and human resources. All the foregoing investments and deployment must combine to give a nation a high logistics Performance Index (LPI).”
Sarunmi said the transport and logistics sector is currently undergoing major transformation given the trend of technological innovations.
Sarumi added that technology is changing our lives and the way we do things on a daily basis.
In her earlier presentation, the national president, CILT Nigeria, Mfon Usoro, said the conference is apt especially when the world is moving towards decarbonisation, adding that it keys into the global conversation about sustainability principles on how businesses, in particular, the logistics and transport sector are conducted.
Usoro said the conference, which has in attendance, policy makers, legislators, transport and logistics operators, academia, lawyers and students, will have an outcome of collaborative work in content development to position the country positively in the global Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
