Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government will address the challenges of mass transportation in the country.
Amaechi disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos at an event organised by a Lagos Radio station tagged “Migrating Workforce; the Challenges of Mass Transportation”.
Amaechi also said to address the problems of mass transportation, the Federal Government will invest hugely in the sector.
“The Federal government will invest hugely on transportation. We will continue to make policies that will improve our mass transportation system. The problem of mass transportation is poor governance; by the grace of God we will complete the Lagos/Ibadan rail project in two and half years. In two and half years, we will also try to complete the Port Harcourt to Calabar rail. We are encouraging Dry Ports that will encourage the transportation of goods and services”.
“In order to address the issues which the topic evokes,
our focus will be three fold; first, we attempt some
overview of the value of transportation in a developing
country like Nigeria especially what a viable transport
system adds to the economic advancement of nations.
Secondly, we reflect on the transportation system the
country has had, its impact on people and the challenges to
the nation’s workforce especially the routinely migrating population and thirdly, we focus on the current paradigm
shift in Federal government operation of the transportation
sector especially the ongoing reform in formulation of
policy and implementation of projects that would ameliorate
the challenges of the migrating workforce”, he said.
Amaechi also described the development of transport
infrastructure as key to achieving the aspirations of
government at all levels.
“Transport infrastructure development remains a major tool
for achieving the aspirations of government at all levels.
The challenges of the Nigerian transport sector are not too
different from what other major infrastructures have
witnessed, especially abandonment by successive
governments”.
“Our vision at the federal ministry of transportation is
to evolve a world class transport system in Nigeria and to
position it as a hub in West and Central Africa. In
achieving our mission which is to establish a safe,
efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal
transport system with global best practices while creating
an enabling environment for public private partnership”.
“We are poised to always have as our target, the easy
migration of our nation’s workforce. The advantage we have
as a team in the present government is the political will
and incorruptible nature of our team leader, President
Muhammadu Buhari”, he said.
