- Details
- Written by Super User
Minister receives Report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Finalization of Draft National Transport Policy (NTP).
The Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Finalization of the Draft National Transport Policy (NTP) has submitted its report to the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The Draft National Policy is a practical and pragmatic response to Nigeria’s need for an integrated, modern and efficient transportation industry that can serve as a vital gateway and link for Nigeria’s internal and external trade in agriculture, energy, mining/oil and gas, manufacturing and other sectors that depend on transport. The purpose of the National Transport Policy is to establish a framework that can guide the planning and development of transport activities in a systematic and sustainable manner for the social and economic development of Nigeria.
Receiving the report yesterday, Tuesday 5th December, 2017 in his office, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi commended the intellectual abilities of the Committee members for coming out with such a pragmatic report capable of moving forward the Transportation sector of the economy.
Amaechi assured that he and the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika would take a critical look at the report and thereafter forward it to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and approval stressing that Mr. President would be very much delighted if the Country has a good working National Transport Policy System. He said “we will go through it and I will direct the Permanent Secretary to give a copy to the Minister of Aviation while I read a copy. Once we are through and we share our view, we will take it to cabinet for approval.
The Minister, aware of the Key roles some Ministries such as the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and Mines and Solid Minerals as critical stakeholders of the National Transport Policy would play enquired if they were consulted for their inputs into the Committee work noting that their contributions to the final report of the NTP were of paramount importance.
He emphasized on Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure development in our Seaports and airports nationwide stressing that its benefits cannot be overemphasized. “I went to the new airport in Singerpore and I didn’t find one person at the airport. As you walk in, technology takes place”, he said.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the 14-Member Committee, the Secretary General, Abuja MoU on Port State Control, Mrs Mfon Nsoro said that the journey for the development of a National Transport Policy for Nigerian began in 1986 when the then Hon. Minister of Transport and Aviation appointed an expert Committee to formulate a Transport Policy for the Country.
According to her, after consultation with stakeholders which included all the States of the Federation, a Draft National Transport Policy (NTP) was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transport in 1990.
Mrs Nsoro further stated that following the 2017 15th Meeting of the National Council on Transportation with the theme “Efficiency of Intermodalism in Transportation: Panacea for Economic Recovery” held in Sokoto on 30th August, 2017, Council constituted the Committee to finalize the review of the draft National Transport Policy (NTP) as one of the resolutions reached with membership as follows:
Mrs Mfon Usoro, Sec. Gen., Abuja MoU on Port State Control - Chairman.
Mr. Solomon Ishaya, Director, Transport Planning and Coordination Dept – Member/Secretary.
Dr. Aminu yusuf, DG NITT
MD, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria
Rector, NCAT, Captain Abdussalam Mohammed
Rep. of Road Transport and Mass Transit Admin. Dept.
Rep. of Rail Transport Services Dept
Rep. of Air Transport Management
Six Hon. Commissioners, one from each geo-political zone
Rep. of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
Rep. of Nigerian Society of Engineers
Rep. of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and,
Rep. of National Centre for Technology Management
DG, NACETEM
Rep. of Corp Marshal, FRSC
She noted that the new draft NTP which has eight chapters as follows; Introduction, water Transportation, Land Transportation, Air Transportation, Education and Training, Integrated Transport System, Policy Implementation Arrangements and Strategic Action Plans would provides for integrated transport system, governance and implementation strategies. She stressed that achieving the vision and objectives defined in the policy requires institutional and legal arrangements to fulfil the policy objectives.