Nigeria suffering from transport poverty – Says Dr Alban Igwe

Nigeria suffering from transport poverty – Says Dr Alban Igwe
…As experts harp on creating sustainable transport policy to rejuvenate the industry

A seasoned global transport specialist, Dr Alban Igwe, has declared that Nigeria is suffering from transport poverty.

He made this declaration during his keynote presentation, at the Annual Roundtable and Bilingual Magazine Public Launch, which took place today,  at the prestigious Marriot Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Dr Alban Igwe, who spoke on ‘Multimodal System of Transportation’ highlighted various areas to evaluate in coming up with an integrated transport policy.

According to him, “Poverty is not only about lack of money in the pocket but poverty of the mind and ideas. Today, Nigeria is a transport poor country, a maritime nation without a national shipping line.

“So, this programme is to stimulate conversation that will bring about a national transport policy.

“We need not only a transport policy but a sustainable transport policy where all potentials and elements in the industry, as well as research systems are embedded.

“We should harness the capacity of private sector through a coordinated transport policy that can create a platform for the private sector to thrive.

“We need to leverage on Nigeria’s logistics advantage and geographical advantage. This is quite imperative because Nigeria is strategically positioned and can become a global transport hub.

“But the issue is that these logistics and geographical advantages are not being taken into cognisance.”

Speaking further, Dr Igwe emphasised on the urgent need for government to develop transport infrastructure, in order to create connectivity for investments opportunities in the industry.

He explained that an integrated and sustainable transport policy can increase the rail capacity before the end of 2025.”

During the panel session, which focused on; ‘transport infrastructure and regional integration; assessing the potential of transport infrastructure development for national integration’, the experts mentioned that professionalism, capacity, sustainability and political will are needed to rejuvenate the Nigerian transport sector for greater growth.

The high point of the occasion was the unveiling and launching of Bilinqual Magazine, where the stakeholders expressed satisfaction on the quality of the magazine.