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Tag: transportation

  • Transportation Varsity promises to immortalise ex-President

    Transportation Varsity promises to immortalise ex-President

    The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD), Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, has said the institution will immortalise the late President Muhammadu Buhari beyond his expectations.

    Owokoniran, a former Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos state, wrote this promise in a tribute to the late President Buhari yesterday in Lagos.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, said: “The challenge is particularly to surpass Buhari’s expectations and make the institution an international pride as a mark of immortalising the heroic contributions of the late President to education and progressive leadership.

    “As Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, all best efforts possible shall be deployed into the institution to attain the standard and productivity as envisaged by its establishment.”

    Read Also: Serious reforms in FCT transportation sector coming – Wike

    He noted that the death of the former President came as a big shock to the town of Daura, the governing council, members of staff, and students of FUTD, the hometown of the late symbol of exemplary leadership.

    “Daura is the community that hosts a foremost specialised university in the country.

    “The immense contributions of the late President from his days as a military officer and Head of State to being a politician and civilian President cannot be quantified.

    “He stood out as a symbol of selfless leadership and, no doubt, had passed on as a great hero of positive leadership.

    “We do not doubt that the late President’s goodwill resonates in the acceptance of the specialised university by the Daura community,” Owokoniran said.

  • Urgent need for mass transportation

    Urgent need for mass transportation

    • By Elvis Eromosele

    Sir: In recent years, the cost of transportation, like everything else, has skyrocketed, putting immense pressure on citizens. This surge is not just a local issue, but one deeply intertwined with national and global factors. The removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the naira, and the volatile nature of international oil prices have all contributed to an unprecedented rise in petrol costs—from N185 per litre before the subsidy removal to a staggering N900, on average. This hike in transportation costs has left many Nigerians struggling, particularly in urban centres where daily commutes are unavoidable.

    For a country where many rely on public transportation to navigate their daily lives, the surge in petrol prices has had a ripple effect. Transportation costs have risen in direct correlation with fuel prices, affecting everything from the price of goods in local markets to the overall cost of living. Public transport fares have doubled, in some cases tripled, in a matter of months, further straining the pockets of average Nigerians who are already grappling with inflation and economic uncertainty.

    The removal of fuel subsidies—while a necessary economic policy to stem the haemorrhaging of government funds—has nonetheless increased the financial burden on everyday Nigerians. Furthermore, the devaluation of the naira has diminished citizens’ purchasing power, leading to higher costs of imported goods and services, including vehicle parts and maintenance for public transport. These issues are compounded by the fluctuations in the global oil market, leaving Nigerians at the mercy of global economic shifts beyond their control.

    Government intervention is required to address the escalating costs of transportation. One immediate solution is to invest heavily in mass transportation schemes that are affordable, reliable, and widely accessible to all citizens. The government must explore and expand existing transportation systems to relieve a population already reeling from inflationary pressures.

    In Lagos, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a commendable initiative that has provided affordable transport for millions of residents. However, the need for an extension of BRT corridors to cover more areas of the state and increase capacity is urgent. Expanding the BRT network will ease the traffic burden on roads, reduce the cost of transportation for more residents, and provide a reliable alternative to expensive private vehicle ownership or commercial buses, which are now charging exorbitant fares due to rising fuel costs.

    Other states must take a leaf from Lagos’s book. The success of mass transit schemes like the BRT shows that with proper planning and investment, efficient public transport systems can provide significant relief to citizens. States like Kano, Rivers, and Kaduna, among others, should look into creating their mass transit systems, tailored to the unique needs and topography of their regions. By doing this, these states can mitigate the transportation crisis and help lower the cost of living for millions of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Nigeria to save N5.4tr from subsidy removal in 2024, says Abiodun

    Beyond implementing new mass transit systems, there is also an urgent need to maintain and expand existing public transportation infrastructure. Roads need to be repaired and properly maintained, and there must be investment in modern vehicles, which are more fuel-efficient and less prone to breakdowns. Additionally, alternative fuel sources such as compressed natural gas (CNG) should be explored, as they offer a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol.

    The reality is that a well-developed mass transportation system is not a luxury; it is a necessity. At a time when citizens are being squeezed financially from all sides, the government must provide a safety net. Affordable and reliable public transport can play a crucial role in reducing the cost of living and making life more manageable for millions of Nigerians. This is particularly important in urban areas, where many rely on public transport to commute to work, access essential services, and maintain their livelihoods.

    By investing in mass transportation, the government can also reduce road congestion, lower the demand for fuel, and promote a more sustainable, environmentally friendly mode of transport. Moreover, mass transit schemes will create jobs, stimulate local economies, and contribute to the overall development of Nigeria’s infrastructure.

    The government should also explore expanding transportation options. It could consider introducing monorails and, where suitable, water transport systems like ferries.

    Now, more than ever, there is an urgent need for government intervention to address this issue. Mass transit systems offer a sustainable and effective solution to the transportation crisis, providing relief for residents and easing the financial burden caused by inflation.

    •Elvis Eromosele,

    elviseroms@gmail.com

  • Don canvasses workable transportation policy

    Don canvasses workable transportation policy

    Professor of Transportation at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Samuel Odewumi, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise conclusion and implementation of the national transportation policy that would benefit Nigerians.

    He gave the advice while delivering the 99th inaugural lecture series of the university at the Buba Marwa Auditorium of the institution.

    Odewumi said the policy should be comprehensive, covering modes of transportation, such as road, air, rail, water and pipeline.

    Odewumi, who spoke about ‘Walking our way back to the garden of Eden: Envisioning a model of the complete metamorphosis of the urban transportation system trajectory,’ called on the government to address the prevailing insecurity that was a dampener on the growth and prosperity of Nigeria’s transport system, making it unattractive to farmers and other segments of the society.

    He said all modes of transportation in Nigeria needed overhauling and only a holistic transportation policy would address the sector’s specific concerns the modes were battling with.

    The don, former dean of School of Transport and Logistics at LASU, gave recommendations capable of moving the transport sector forward.

    Read Also: Why banks, others must join anti-terrorism battle, by NSA

    He said the government would need to give special attention in terms of effective management of road transportation, because about 90 per cent of mobility in the country was carried out on roads.

    The inaugural lecturer hailed Lagos State Government for concluding its own transportation policy, which he said, was presented to the stakeholders on May 28.

    He said any further review necessary for the workability of the all-important document should be carried out without delay.

    Odewumi said the document, if well reviewed, would set a pace for federal and other state governments still battling with coming up with their own form of policy to drive the transportation sector in their domains.

    Among other dignitaries at the event were traditional rulers, crème of the academia, management of the institution and the Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso.

  • ‘Govt investment in public transportation solution to petroleum crisis’

    ‘Govt investment in public transportation solution to petroleum crisis’

    Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has stressed the need for the government to invest in public transportation.

    He said it was one of the ways out of the current petroleum crisis in the country, adding that Nigeria had not reached a level where every man and woman would have to have a car.

    Adebayo, a lawyer, advised the Federal Government to start treating the issue of fuel supply and energy as national security, ‘’the way the United States of America, Russia and United Kingdom are doing.’’

    Read Also: Lagos signs MoU with Chinese firm on rice value chain, agriculture

    Adebayo, frowning at the current petroleum hardship being faced nationally, coupled with the ever increasing pump price, said it was the responsibility of the government, whether using market rules or policy tools, to ensure petrol was available and reliably delivered to the nearest pump.

    He said: “We need to invest in public transportation. We can set up plants, where whether in partnership with people in Brazil or in Asia, by the time you produce 50,000, 100,000 public buses that are on CNG, some of them can even be on electric. But there must be a national programme devoted to that.’’

  • Night travels still driving transportation economy

    Night travels still driving transportation economy

    Despite the raging harsh economic conditions, worrisome spate of accidents and growing insecurity, Nigerians have continued to travel at night when the need arises, leading to sustained boom in operators’ businesses. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE writes on the many reasons why it has remained a thriving business

    Transportation–either for commuters or the operators, especially night travels in Nigeria–is not a tea party or for the faint-hearted.

    This correspondent discovered that despite all odds, many Nigerians have continued to travel at night, the growing insecurity, and harsh economic realities, notwithstanding. For these Nigerians, the goodnight Lagos, and good morning at their destinations–Abuja, or wherever, be it the Southeast, or any towns in the Northeast, as far as Maiduguri, is an allure that cannot be traded for anything or wished away. It is the reason night travels will always trump day trips whenever the need for long distance trip arises.

    Besides the convenience, many said the fear of insecurity is even abating now with the numerous checkpoints mounted by Nigeria’s security agencies which come alive at night on the country’s highways.

    The Nation’s investigation showed that businessmen and women formed the bulk of night travellers. One of such, Ikechukwu Obiora has been a night traveller since 1993, even as a boy learning auto spare parts business.

    Now, going to his home state in Anambra, or coordinating his growing business, in the past 31 years, have always been by night trips. He cannot remember when last he made a day trip, except if it is not an interstate.

    Asked if he is not bothered by the growing insecurity, Mr Obiora said: “Even daytime travelling isn’t better as people still get robbed, abducted or killed or injured from serious accidents.”

    Like before, over 80 per cent of nighttime travellers are still businessmen and women. Night trips, for some reasons, have been very favourable to businessmen; either for personal travel or logistics reasons for their businesses.

    Notable operators who have continued to operate at night have to rely on luxury buses, many of which have seen better days, as many of them were bought in the early to late ‘90s. Virtually all operators spoken to during this investigation at Jibowu and Agboju, two of the over 100 major parks across Lagos State admitted that no operator bought new luxury vehicles to replace the aging ones in the past 25 years.

    The result is that many of the buses due to age are no longer in good condition and cases of malfunctioning are rampant today, compared to early to mid-8‘0s when night trips gained popularity. This usually results in delays and unpalatable experiences by patrons as these could even happen in the dead of the night.

    Mrs. Kate Onyeabuchi recalled such a nightmarish experience when their vehicle developed a major fault at night and they had to sleep overnight in the middle of nowhere until daybreak. Yet, such incidents won’t dampen her interest to travel by night.

    Investigation shows that some of these operators are culpable of putting rickety vehicles on the road. Many of the passengers are hoodwinked by the longstanding names of the operators, while, for others, fresh dab of colour are used to mask the grievous state of a wearied engine they put on the road to service interstate roads. Due to age, many of the buses packed waiting for passengers at Jibowu and Agboju areas, two of the places noted as interstate hubs are rickety, with torn seats, poor interior lighting and other sundry issues.

    But none of these reasons, including a poor network of roads which could make night trips worrisome, would deter commuters who said that night trips remained their preference. As more Nigerians embrace this mode of travel, it underscores a broader shift in transportation preferences and lifestyle choices. 

    They said rather than spend the day time on a boring trip with accompanied heat and traffic congestion which often causes delays and increases travel time, night time ensures a more comfortable ambience, a relaxed traffic and the opportunity to even take a deserving nap at night leaving you refreshed and ready for the day’s business by dawn of the next day.

    Commuters have increasingly seen night journeys as safer and faster despite warnings by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies about the dangers and risk associated with such trips.

    Some commuters pointedly said that they had resorted to night trips because they could not afford the high fares since the removal of petrol subsidy last year by the Tinubu administration.

    Dave Obibi, a Lagos-based teacher cited his Christmas trip back home last year with his family. He said he couldn’t afford the cost for day time and resorted to travel by night which is affordable. Obibi, who is heading back to check on his parents, said he would be able to take his ailing dad for medical checkup and nurse him back to health, before returning to Lagos at the end of the long vacation.

    Many of the bus operators are also able to deploy GPS tracking solutions to track in real time their vehicles and secure up-to-date information about their location, making night travel more comfortable and efficient.

    The rise of mobile apps and virtual money have also made it possible for passengers to book and pay their fare online; thereby making planning and managing night travel much easier. Travelers are able to book tickets, check schedules, and receive updates directly from their smartphones, adding convenience and reassurance to their journey experience.

    Peter Idahosa, an assistant station manager of a popular operator at Jibowu said rather than bothering about the worsening insecurity, operators are more concerned about the worsening state of highway roads across the country. He urged the Federal Government to fix the roads as this would give the needed fillip to those in the travel and logistics business.

    Kenneth Odeh, a station manager with a transport company based in Bolade, in Oshodi, confirmed that unlike the last one decade security has improved significantly and insecurity is not top priority among the challenges for operators.

     According to him, unlike before when all luxury buses are accompanied by policemen and Federal SARS, many operators no longer go with security details while those who still do now employ trained in-house personnel and even first aiders to accompany their vehicles in case of medical emergencies on the road. He said traveling with security men could expose the vehicles to attack from armed gangs prowling on the road.

    “Largely today, because of the improved security, most luxury bus operators do not put security men on our buses. Most of us go in convoy and that provides some safety net and if any of our vehicles or any vehicle from our park runs into crisis, whether attacked or it breaks down, we will all wait to offer assistance and ensure the safety of all the passengers,” Odeh said.

     Botched move

    The Nigerian Senate, in 2011, had attempted to ban night travels. In a motion by Senator Chris Anyanwu, from Imo State, she had lobbied her colleagues to ban night travels to arrest the spate of carnage on the road and to curb the growing insecurity. However, other lawmakers argued that such a ban would infringe on the people’s right to free movement, but resolved to direct the Federal Government to speed up on road rehabilitation and to better equip the FRSC to perform their statutory functions of ensuring that the road is safe.

     Scary statistics

    But the FRSC would insist that road monitoring is a cumbersome exercise at night. It insisted on advising Nigerians to stop night traveling to avoid road carnage.

    According to its road traffic crashes statistics, FRSC claimed that about 4,387 people were killed through road crashes between January to June 2023, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while 14,108 others sustained different forms of injuries within the same period.

    Also, between December 23, 2023 and January 2, 2024, five crashes recorded across the country accounted for 58 deaths and all accidents occurred by night.

    Read Also: FG says CNG vehicles ‘ll reduce cost of transportation

    While admitting that the rate of accidents had indeed dropped significantly, in recent time, yet, fatality rate anytime accidents are recorded is scary.

    FRSC have consistently warned Nigerians and transporters about the dangers of night travel.

    The agency also warned luxury bus owners to keep their vehicles in good condition always and not to use them at night in view of the risk involved.

    However, despite the warning, night travelling is gaining popularity among commuters in the country, especially in big cities like Lagos and Abuja.

    A top official of the FRSC told The Nation that night travel often comes with poor visibility and, in most cases; the drivers do not observe adequate rest in the daytime before embarking on the trips.

    “That is why the level of fatigue is on the rise and many would not park to get some rest because of security reasons.

    “We have deployed patrol vehicles, tow trucks, bikes and ambulances for rescue and emergency operations to our formations nationwide.

    “This deployment is among others targeted at increasing visibility on the highways and also ensuring prompt removal of obstructions and enhancing effective patrol operations,” the official who spoke to our correspondent ii confidence said.

     Lifestyle preference

     But many who preferred night trips say the risk is worth taking if juxtaposed with the huge benefits derived from it. “I regularly travel at night because of my business, I supply goods to my customers in Aba and I can’t waste my time going in the day, the last time I tried it, I spent two days on the road.

    “The many checkpoints and roadblocks on the Southeast roads are something else. These, coupled with bad roads, lead to traffic congestion making the journey a nightmare,” Isaac Okafor, a businessman, said.

    Okafor stressed that he was not bothered about the security implications of night trips, adding that even the day is not safer. “There is more security on the roads at night than in the day,” he added.

    Okafor may be right, at the Agege, Jibowu, Agboju and Oshodi parks visited by our correspondent, same pattern was recorded: Passengers merely strolled in up till 5pm to book their seats for the night journey to different parts of the country, especially Abuja, Southsouth and Southeast. The parks do not get busy until 7:00 p.m. when travellers who either had booked online or had earlier come to book come in and loading the buses with cargo begins. At around 8:00 p.m., passenger loading commences and by 9:00 p.m., the bus(es) are ready to leave the station en route to their destinations, Abuja or the East.

    Though Abuja-bound travellers enjoy more compact and urbane Sienna cars or Hiace buses popularly called Hummer buses by locals, most transport companies dedicate luxury buses for night journeys because they are studier and rugged for the bad road terrain.

    Logistics is a major business component of all transport operators. Traders and businessmen were seen thronging the logistics section to weigh their goods and ensure they are loaded, whether or not they are on the bus themselves. It is a huge business.

     Big cash business

     At Jibowu, a manager in one of the parks, simply known as Mr Gabriel, said all the parks are under the same umbrella and they operate the same fare either for Abuja or the Southeast.

    Gabriel, who disclosed that 15 stations are in Jibowu, said on a good day, seven 57-seater buses are loaded from Jibowu alone. Similar experiences may be recorded across all the over 100 parks scattered across the state daily.

    Calculated at N25,000 per passenger, to either Abuja, or the Southeast or Southsouth, an operator could rake in N1.350 million per day, while all operators on a good day could make N17.5 million, or about N87.5 million weekly on ticket sales alone. This is apart from what they raked in from cargo fares. With over 100 such stations scattered around the state, Lagos and many urban centres across the country are sitting on a billion naira economy weekly, just on night travels.

    Chukwudi Okoro, an auto parts seller in Anambra, said that he frequents Lagos weekly to restock parts and other equipment and said he prefers night trips by luxury buses because it is less stressful and affords him the opportunity of going with his goods.

    “I take a night journey because it is faster and more convenient for me to move what I have. People say there is danger, but I have never experienced any problem.

    “For businessmen, daytime is horrible for business as security operatives could extort the hell out of you and if you do not give them money, they would seize your goods no matter how much it is worth,” he said.

    Another night traveller, Josephine Akor, said she is a frequent night traveller as she shuttles Abuja at least twice a month for business.

    Though she said she realized it was risky, the option of going by flight had dimmed since last year when flight tickets began to rocket.

    “I understand that a night journey could turn awry, but I have no choice. I have so many things to do in Abuja, and at least twice a month, I hit the road en route. Until I rent a place there, I might have to resort to these trips,” Akor said.

    Yusuf Tanimowo, an unemployed graduate who confessed some trepidation at the prospect of the trip to Abuja, said he had no choice as he had even to borrow some money to add to what he had, to buy the ticket for the trip. He was going to Abuja for an interview at the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). Though his chance may look slim, he, nonetheless, decided to seize it and pray it leads him somewhere.

    “Though I am a bit afraid, I’m prepared for this journey, though it is my first time going to Abuja, my brother; forget, it is only God that is guarding us.

    “I can’t travel by plane, because I don’t have money for a ticket; perhaps if railway had been extended to Abuja, I could have considered it but our government had made things difficult and left the people with no choice than to expose themselves to avoidable risks because alternatives are limited for the masses of the people,” he added.

    But Berth Chukwu, a loader with one of the transport companies at Agege Park, listed the many reasons he felt night travels continue to thrive. Ranking high in his reckoning is the low fare attraction. Besides, road accidents are becoming rare since the federal government decided to work on many of the roads; turning them from single to double lanes.

    “Since 2023 till date, we have not recorded any accident unlike before. This reinforces the confidence of people and this reflects on the boom we are experiencing.

    “Significantly, the temperature at night is cooler making travelling better and more enjoyable. Before day break you have reached your destination. There is also no disturbance or traffic congestion during the night,” he said.

    Chukwu added that the deployment of technology which has seen a rise in cashless transactions is a major boost to the business as it has discouraged armed robbers and other criminals from attacking night buses knowing people don’t carry cash any more.

    “We now have cashless transactions, so robbers know that people don’t carry money again; there is no point attacking buses and commuters.

    “Also, the country is hard now; the night bus fare is low when you compare it to buses that move during the day.

    “Day buses can charge N29, 000, N27, 000 for a journey to any South-East states and night buses can collect N18, 000 or less to Abuja and about N25, 000 to the Southeast.

    Conclusion

    The advantage of luxury buses is that they are more stable, especially on rough roads than smaller buses which are susceptible to accidents. This is even more because the luxury buses are driven by professionals who are proficient in defensive driving.

    He stressed that the high cost of diesel and gas has also affected fare and transport business in recent times, urging the government to intervene.

    “Even if the government cannot reverse the subsidy, they could subsidise transportation. They did it in the yuletide season and Nigerians were happy. Let them devise a way to give relief to operators as this would lead to a significant drop in the cost of transportation and this would cascade down to everything as transportation cost would be reflective.” a traveller said.

    But whether or not the Federal Government did anything to bring down the cost, travellers would continue to make night journeys their preference.

    “The benefits far outweigh its risks,” was how Mrs Ojuawo, another traveller heading to Abuja sums it.

  • Multi-modal transportation system: legal, policy priorities

    Multi-modal transportation system: legal, policy priorities

    • By Collins Okeke

    Nigeria has huge opportunities in the transportation sector to generate revenue, create jobs, and facilitate movement for business and leisure.

    Unfortunately, over the years, we have not been able to take advantage of those opportunities largely because of inadequate infrastructure, high operating costs, weak or suboptimal regulations, limited skilled capacity, financial difficulties, and more recently insecurity.

    These challenges cut across all transportation sectors including rail, road, aviation, and maritime.

    To successfully develop a multimodal transport system, we first need to understand why these challenges have persisted and then proffer workable solutions.

    In this article, I identify five cross-cutting legal and policy failures. I have also outlined legal and policy priorities for transportation in Nigeria.

    Legal, policy failures

    Over-centralisation and federal dominance: The Federal Government currently dominates the entire transport sector, not effectively engaging states and local governments.

    This denies states and especially local communities the opportunity to participate in tackling pressing transport challenges like insecurity.

    The fifth alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which now allows States to participate in rail transportation is a step in the right direction. However, a lot more devolution of transportation powers needs to take place. States should be allowed to manage inland waterways, federal intra-state roads, etc.

    No harmonised policy on transportation: Since Independence, Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Transportation has developed at least 7 transport policy documents, some of which include: the 1965 Statement of Policy on Transport; the 1993 Transport Policy for Nigeria; the 2003 Draft National Transport Policy Document; the 2008 Draft National Transport Policy; the 2010 Draft National Transport Policy; the 2013 Draft National Transport Policy; and the 2021 Draft National Transport Policy (being the latest). Most of these have remained as drafts and were not implemented. Each state and transport sector (Aviation, Rail, Road, Maritime) has its own policies, most of which sometimes contradict each other.

    Overlapping institutional mandates: Nigeria’s transport sector currently has too many regulatory agencies with unclear responsibilities.

    The result is competition over funding and resources, weak inter-agency coordination, administrative bottlenecks between agencies, inter-agency frictions over operational areas, etc. This makes coordination extremely difficult.

    For example, there is a conflict between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NIMASA) over wreck removal; NIMASA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) are also in conflict over who controls the inland waterways. The same applies down the line among the other agencies.

    Weak Enforcement and Implementation: Enforcement and implementation of policies, laws, and regulations in the transport sector are often lacking due to corruption, inadequate capacity, and insufficient funding.

    Several airports, airlines, and maritime operators flout stipulated safety standards in their operations, landing procedures, and maintenance schedules due to oversight gaps.

    Vandalism and trespassing of railway tracks, equipment, and properties is rampant as there is deficient security and enforcement to protect such transport infrastructure.

    Inadequate private sector engagement: This is mostly a result of complex regulatory requirements, limited incentives, and poor contract enforcement. Policies and regulations governing transportation are crafted without sufficient private sector inputs and perspectives, leading to business-unfriendly policies.

    There is minimal private sector participation in the development of inland water transport infrastructure and services, leading to the underutilisation of Nigeria’s vast river systems.

    Additionally, private companies play negligible roles in railway operations, leaving rail transportation underfunded and inefficient, apart from select attempts at railway concessions.

    Most federal roads are funded solely by the government, with very little private sector involvement through public-private partnerships (PPPs), which leaves the roads in poor shape.

    Legal and policy priorities

    Harmonised transportation policy supported by legislation: Nigeria would benefit greatly from the development of a harmonized national transportation policy that is supported by legislation, and which integrates all levels of government and the private sector.

    The Federal Ministry of Transport should play a coordinating role in this regard. Such a multimodal policy would facilitate coordinated infrastructure development, balanced transport investments across regions, unified regulatory standards, robust planning from shared data forecasts, and increased private sector capital.

    This would eliminate duplicitous efforts through the synchronised complementary buildout of assets like roads, rails, airports, and seaports. An overarching set of operational, safety, and customer service regulations would also allow better sector oversight.

    This, in turn, would improve efficiency, quality of service, safety, and cost optimization for both passenger and freight movement by consolidating the strengths of public agencies and private companies across aviation, land, and water transportation.

    Update existing legislation: There is an urgent need to update existing legislation governing the various transportation sectors to enable much-needed modernisation.

    Key laws requiring amendment include – the antiquated 1955 Railways Act to allow private concessions and public-private partnerships in railways; the 1954 Ports Authority Act to repeal constraints on private port operators and increase privatisation; the 2006 Civil Aviation Act to empower the NCAA regulatory agency to enforce stricter safety standards; the 2004 Highway Development Act to attract private infrastructure investors through fairer returns; and the 2004 Inland Waterways Act to provide impetus for private sector partnerships in boosting inland water freight and passenger transportation channels.

    Enact pending legislation: There are several pivotal transport sector reform bills pending before Nigeria’s National Assembly that need to be urgently passed to enable a comprehensive revamp.

    These include – the National Transport Commission Bill to formulate integrated policies across all transport modes and manage safety regulations and consumer protections; the Ports and Harbours Bill to commercialize ports operations and drive efficiency through privatisations; the Railway Development Authority Bill to set an independent agency that can expand the railway network via private investments; the Road Sector Reform Bill to increase private sector participation in road infrastructure projects; and the National Transport Policy Bill to institute an overarching policy that interlinks aviation, rail, maritime and inland water transport strategies using global best practices customised for Nigeria.

    Streamline regulatory institutions: Nigeria needs to streamline the complex array of regulatory institutions governing the transportation sector to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This can be achieved by consolidating all road transport agencies under a Federal Highways Authority; merging aviation bodies like FAAN, NCAA and NAMA within a unified Nigerian Aviation Commission; privatising ports management while an expanded Ports Commission oversees regulations; expanding the Rail Transport Safety Commission into a broader oversight mandate; instituting a private sector-supported Automotive Control Authority for vehicular inspection regimes; and setting up an apex Transportation Commission/Ministry to coordinate policies and data sharing across the consolidated entities – covering aspects like infrastructure integration, safety/security assurances, operational efficiency and service delivery enhancements for a holistic advancement of Nigeria’s aviation, rail, road, maritime and inland water transport networks.

    Privatise and commercialise through PPP: This promises immense benefits including – injecting billions of dollars of private capital annually to bridge huge public infrastructure funding gaps; driving major efficiency improvements in cost optimisation, operational excellence and service quality; enhancing technology utilisation for customer experience, safety and transparency; reducing public sector budgetary and operational burdens to focus more on policy oversight; and injecting world-class technical expertise, managerial competencies and global best practices to holistically transform Nigerian transportation.

    Incentivise transport education and growth of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities: Nigeria needs to incentivize transport education and growth of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities by providing tax rebates and import duty waivers for certified training institutes and MRO centres; subsidising enrollment fees for technical transport courses via a dedicated Fund to aid affordability; allocating free land or preferential leases at airports and seaports to attract global MRO players; making MRO experience mandates for licensing renewals to compel local facility usage; implementing preferential local content in tenders for contractors evidencing skills transfer; and extending export incentives and tax credits for indigenous MRO firms to support their expansion – all towards addressing the strategic skill gap challenges and strengthening maintenance capabilities vital for advancement of Nigeria’s aviation, rail, road and maritime transport sectors.

    Read Also: Be patient with us, Speaker Abbas appeals to Nigerians

    Strategy on insecurity: Nigeria requires a well-coordinated strategy between federal and state agencies to tackle endemic insecurity in the transport sector via setting up a multi-agency joint task force for intelligence sharing and unified patrols; installing sophisticated surveillance systems like sensors, drones and AI-based analytics software integrated for proactive threat response; incentivising community participation for intelligence gathering on risks; reviewing insurance policies and compensation models to support operators suffering losses; criminalizing activities like rail vandalism etc. to enforce maximum deterrence penalties; and training specialized security units dedicated to safeguarding critical airport, railway, maritime and highway transport infrastructure.

    Conclusion

    Nigeria has enormous potential to advance its multimodal transportation networks across aviation, rail, road, maritime, and inland waterways. However, several structural issues such as over-centralization, fragmentation, weak institutions, inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity have severely constrained tapping into those opportunities.

    Implementing the outlined legal and policy priorities focused on greater harmonization, updating legislative frameworks, consolidating regulatory bodies, increased private sector participation, capacity building, and security improvements promises to set Nigeria firmly on the path towards modern, efficient, integrated, and world-class transport amenities.

    The time is now for Nigeria to make these pivotal unified, collaborative, and progressive reforms that put in place the enabling conditions for transport operators, investors, and customers alike to thrive.

    *Okeke is Associate Partner & Head of Public Sector Practice Group at Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)

  • Unified transportation system coming in FCT

    Unified transportation system coming in FCT

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed plans to unveil Unified Standard Transportation System in the nation’s capital.

    Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr. Abdulateef Bello, said this yesterday during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting.

    Bello, who stated that the recovery of taxi ranks earlier issued quit notice within the capital city, would soon commence, with the aim of reorganising it for licensed operators.

    He said the need to standardise the transportation system in Abuja, had become very necessary, considering that the city was fastly evolving and no aspect of it should be ignored.

    Bello said Abuja cannot be left without an organised transportation system that will meet the needs of all citizens.

    He equally stated that the administration has perfected plans with consultants to bring in buses that use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), to solve the problems of mass transit in Abuja.

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    According to him, the buses when acquired and deployed to different routes, will take care of the rickety vehicles and taxis that have been constituting nuisances on Abuja roads.

    Chairman of RTEIN Mass Transit, Dr Abubakar Sadiq, said the new policy by the administration was a welcome development, but critical players in the transportation sector must be given adequate consideration.

    Chairman of Self Employed Commercial Drivers Association (SECDAN), Okorie Victor,  urged the administration to embark on aggressive sensitisation to ensure that all stakeholders properly understand the evolving policies of the administration in the transportation sector.

  • Release of prison inmates: two NGOs provide transportation

    Two Non-Governmental Or-ganisations (NGOs), the Prisoners Rights Advocacy Initiatives   (PRAI) and Knights of St. Mulumba, have facilitated the movements of 16 inmates who were granted freedom by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, in three federal prisons in the state.

    PRAI with the support of Citizen Gavel provided  in addition, barbing equipment and accessories to an inmate who learnt barbing in prison.

    According to PRAI Executive Director, Ahmed Adetola Kazeem, “We shall be providing job and educational support for the awaiting trial inmates released by the Chief Judge  as well as convicts who have been released or due to be released this December”, .

    He said: “We thank our donors, the Prison Service , the Judiciary and most importantly our volunteers for making this experience worthwhile. We also appreciate the Chief Judge for her efforts, but express disappointment on the number of inmates released compared to the total number of awaiting trial in  persons’’.

    He however expressed optimism that the next phase of release will be better.

    He also said that PRAI will strive to ensure that the inmates stay out of prison through positive engagements and job support for them.

    It would be recalled that  PRAI had asked for a review of the criteria for release in its letter dated  November 1, 2018 and some of the suggestions were taken into consideration by the the  Chief Judge.

    Sir Edwin Okolie, who also spoke on the occasion, commended Justice Oke for the freedom granted the 16 inmates,

    He urged the chief judge to make prison visit a quarterly affair to quicken prison decongestion especially those unlawfully incarcerated by the Police and the state’s task force.

     

  • 55% vehicles in FCT not road worthy – Official

    Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the Transportation Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, has revealed that 55 per cent of vehicles on FCT roads are not road worthy.

    The Transportation Secretary made this known when he released motor vehicles and drivers licence statistics for the FCT for the first quarter of 2018 in Abuja on Friday.

    Opeifa said of the vehicles inspected at the Abuja Computerised Vehicles Centres, between January and April 6, only 45 per cent passed the test.

    “In order to ensure that vehicles plying the territory roads are road worthy, the secretariat has therefore directed the commencement of ‘Operation Crocodile’ to rid Abuja streets of unworthy vehicles.”

    He urged motorists who have not made their vehicles available for inspection to do so.

    “Also, within the period under review, 3,085 vehicles, 260 motorcycles, 406 tricycles, 281 unpainted taxis, were impounded for various traffic offences.

    “This is against 2,885 vehicles, 183 motorcycles, 350 tricycles and 271 unpainted taxis for the same period in 2017,’’ he added.

    He said 13,757 new vehicles were registered while 48,083 vehicle licences were renewed.

    He said that 355 vehicles abandoned, accidented, and burnt were evacuated during rescue operations.

    Opeifa noted that 18,067 drivers’ licences were processed between January and March, 2018 as against 16,668 processed in the same period in 2017.

    NAN

     

  • Rewriting mass transportation narratives in Lagos

    With the take-off of the 820 high capacity buses from the Ikeja Bus Terminal in September, Lagos seems set to alter its transportation landscape. The buses may also become the biggest money spinner for the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administaration, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE.

    The picture painted by Planet Projects Limited Managing Director Mr. Biodun Otunola of the public transport system during the inauguration of the Ikeja Bus terminal  by President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday, was, indeed, grim.

    Welcoming the President and other top government functionaries both at the federal and state levels to the edifice, Otunola had disclosed that the terminal sets out to address a lacuna which successive governments whether at federal or state have always overlooked.

    According to him, the high rate of accidents, unreliable and rickety vehicles as well as the bad road network across the country have made road transportation one of the most risky in the world.

    Planet Projects Limited is the contractor that built the Ikeja Bus Terminal. It is also handling others across the state.

    A bemused Buhari had applauded his host Akunwunmi Ambode for his ambitious projects that are meant to solve the transportation challenges of his people.

    Otunola, while decrying the state of transportation, noted that many factors contributed to making the commuters’ on the roads experience horrific.

     

    Unsafe Roads

    “Many leave their homes in the morning, never knowing whether they are going to return, lose their bags or their limbs to thieves or accidents,” Otunola said.

    Juxtaposing this with what obtains in the aviation sub-sector, he said though only 21,000 people patronise all the airports in the country daily, the government’s attention is focused on the sector because it serves the middle class, whereas the 80 million Nigerians, who use public transportation daily are left to unattended to.

    The time, he said, had come for the government to plan for the masses who use public transport daily. “They deserve to be protected, to have more decent and comfortable means of transportation to their various places of engagements; an end must come to the regime of rickety vehicles, and lawless environment under which they are forced to commute,” Otunola added.

    Largely, successive governments have continued to ignore the people as a major component in their road design and utilisation.

    Often, roads are built without consideration for pedestrians, thus no provision was made for a walkway,   and cycling. It was as if the roads were designed to be used by vehicles only.

     

    Danfo era going

    For over 60 years, the masses have been consigned to using rickety vehicles as their means of transportation. From the ubiquitous Bolekaja (come down, let’s slug it out), the wooden mass transit contraption of the 60s, to the Molue, which inherited the urban routes and lasted until the turn of the millennium, to the yellow danfo mini- and midi-buses, commercial operators have been at the forefront of providing public transportation as the government abandoned the space, while the middle class, who can afford a decent alternative, provided their means of transportation.

    This led to a surge in private vehicles on the roads, leaving a cosmopolitan state like Lagos with three million private vehicles as at last year, thereby compounding the infrastructural crisis with the roads lacking the carrying capacity for its  huge traffic.

    As at 2016, the Ministry of Transportation said the Lagos loses about 20 billion man-hour yearly to traffic gridlock. With 12 million people moving on its dilapidating road network, the figure may be a tip of the iceberg.

     

    Floating revenue

    With an average transportation spend of N200 per person daily, its 12 million commuting public spend about N2.4 billion daily, about N72 billion monthly and 864 billion yearly. This amount is what has been flowing into private pockets of transport union leaders of an unorganised road transportation sector in Lagos alone.

    If it to be properly harnessed, the sector alone can sustain state’s yearly budget, which hit a record  N1 trillion mark this year.

    That is why changing the narrative becomes critical to the Akinwumi administration.

    A former transportation don and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineers Dr Tajudeen Bawa-Allah said Ambode’s major task should be how to take public transportation users from 12 million it inherited to 15 million.

    This, he said, could be achieved by reprioritising the system. “If this is done, Ambode would unlock the huge idle funds floating within the unorganised private transportation sector and move this to the public sector,” he said.

    All that he needs to do is give a befitting alternative means of transportation to the people, he insisted.

    Bawa-Allah, also a former Managing Director of the defunct Lagos Mass Transit Company Limited (LMTC), believes the bus reform initiative of the government stand a better chance of providing this missing link.

    Ambode last Thursday said his admnistration was committed to the bus reform.

    According to him, by next September, 820 airconditioned buses fitted with wifi, charging points for passenger’s mobile devices, comfortable seats would replace the rickety buses that still ply the metropolitan city centre.

    This, analysts said, might be the precursor to taking over the ownership of the sector and lead gradually to the phasing out of transport unions who have been a thorn in the flesh of commuters, making transportation cost in the state not only unpredictable, but one of the highest, not only in the country but arguably in the continent.

    Otunola, who said the day the first bus rolls out of the terminus with its load of passengers would be the hapiest in his life, said the opening of the Ikeja Bus Terminal brings a bouquet of offerings that seek to standardise road transportation.

    With terminal comes a robust Intelligent Transport System (ITS) that controls the buses and helps the people plan their journey time. Arrivals and destinations are displayed and 13 ticketing booths would be providing to service 23 various routes across the mainland and Island, with an ATM plaza, shopping and office arcade and food court to cater for commuters’gourmet.

    The IBT would be serviced by 100 buses to be used by 200,000 passengers daily. This is outside the various transport transport Apps that would be available for Lagosians to download on Google play or Apple Store to help improve travel experience of the people.

    Other offerings, according to the Commissioner for Works Mr Akinsanya, are the introduction of online ticketing and travel card system, and the introduction of drivers’ uniform and identification cards to remove anonymity and assure passenger’s safety and reliability.

    What this means is when the new buses are deployed at the IBT, the beautiful edifice, which would  serve 200,000 passengers, would be raking in about N40 million daily, N1.2 billion monthly and N14.4 billion yearly.

    The governor said 10 other world- class bus terminals that would have facilities, such as a loading bay, a taxi ramp, and waiting areas, among others, were springing up at Oworonsoki, Agege, Maryland, Oshodi, Ojota, NAHCO, Ilupeju, Yaba, Oyingbo, and TBS.

    While the last, like Ikeja, has been delivered, others would be ready in September. This is apart from another 300 bus shelters, three bus depots and an ITS system that would synchronise all transportation modes in the first phase alone. These, according to the governor, are scalable interventions.

    Ambode disclosed that the second phase of the reform is the injection of 5,000 new high-capacity and environmental-friendly buses, over the next three years into the state’s economy. The buses, which would be managed by members of the transport unions as franchised fleet operators, will redefine transportation service available to all Lagosians.

    “Our intention is to build a transportation infrastructure that will inspire Lagosians to put their trust in our planned public transport system,” the governor stressed.

    He said though the government would import the first set of buses, for which he disclosed the Federal Government had given the state a waiver, the masterstroke would be to assemble the vehicles within the next 20 months.

    “Our goal is to build an assembly plant within the next 20 months,” the governor added.

    Though the strides on road transport seems ambitious, Ambode told his guests that he was determined to put in place an integrative transport system that would include the waterways, while the light rail projects were also on stream.

    “Our concentration is not solely on the roads, we are equally promoting non-motorised transportation, such as walking and cycling, to promote healthy living of the people, while the 27-km blue light rail from Okokomaiko, west of Lagos, to Marina in Central Lagos, is on. While discussions are in top gear with various investors and stakeholders on the second major trunk called the red line which according to him is the state’s major urban rail project,’’ he said.

    Analysts agreed that the way to go was to ensure that modern structures were in place to encourage public sector transportation.

    “Government needs to encourage the middle class to start patronising public transportation. If more comfortable vehicles are introduced across the state for this purpose, attention would shift away from the need to provide alternative means of transportation and with less vehicles on the road, there would be a reduction in the emission of green house gasses and deflation of pressures that takes a toll of the health of the people.

     

    Conclusion

    A thickly-populated and highly- cosmopolitan city state like Lagos requires efficient transport system that would maximise the modes in which it has comparative advantage.

    A transportation consultant, Charles Odimegwu, said a state like Lagos ought to have a vibrant water transportation system. He said with the state about 50 nautical miles away from Warri, Delta State, Lagos ought to make its waterways attractive to ensure that travellers were encouraged to patronise its waterways for interstate shuttle service just like the road mode is witnessing a boom.

    For Odimegwu and others, who might want the state to develop more vibrant presence across all sectors of the transport system, Ambode said his administration is strongly committed to such dream.

    “We are convinced in our commitment to providing a functional, efficient and integrated transportation system which will support our population and facilitate commerce. We will continually work to achieve this objective and leave no stone unturned to make Lagos work for all,” he added