The federal government has unveiled Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy, aimed at creating an integrated, efficient, safe, affordable and sustainable transportation system to support economic growth and national development.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima unveiled the policy at the 19th National Council on Transportation in Abuja.
Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said the policy marked a shift from developing isolated transport projects to building an integrated national network in which roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation complement one another.
He said the objective was to connect production centres with markets, ports and consumers while improving the movement of people and goods across the country.
The vice-president described the railway modernisation programme as a critical component of the administration’s transportation strategy, noting that the government was pursuing major rail corridors to improve connectivity across the eastern, central and northern parts of the country.
He said the government was also working to strengthen connections between ports, railways, roads and logistics hubs to improve cargo movement and reduce pressure on highways.
Shettima specifically cited the Kano-Maradi railway project, which links Kano through Jigawa and Katsina to Maradi in Niger Republic, saying the project would support domestic connectivity, cross-border trade and regional integration.
He stressed the need to connect ports to rail and road networks to facilitate efficient cargo evacuation.
“Rail must connect to roads. Rail to production centres and markets, while roads provide first-and last-mile access,” Shettima said.
The vice-president said no single mode of transportation could adequately meet Nigeria’s needs in isolation, stressing the importance of an intermodal transport system.
He also disclosed that the federal government had approved high-grade urban transportation projects and directed the Minister of Transportation to work with participating states to establish clear technical, institutional, regulatory and implementation arrangements.
Shettima said successful implementation of the projects would provide a model that could be replicated in other Nigerian cities.
Speaking at the event, former minister of transportation, Said Alkali, said the absence of a comprehensive land transport policy had made it difficult for the ministry to effectively regulate the sector, particularly as transportation challenges continued to evolve.
Alkali said the new policy aligned with the administration’s eight-point agenda and provided a framework for developing a fast, safe, efficient, affordable, convenient, integrated and intermodal transportation system.
