Transportation constitutes a significant factor in national economic prosperity as it facilitates international and local trades, supports food security and generates employment.
By Uzor Odigbo
Federal Ministry of Transportation on Thursday charged states across the nation to key into developments of inland water transportation.
Dr. Ajani Magdalene Nwanwuche, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, gave the charge at the 9th Annual Transport Lecture organized by Transport Day Newspapers, with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Transportation For Development; Sectoral Achievements, Prospects and Challenges’ which was held in Abuja.
“The deployment of deep blue sea project for safety and secured shipping is a major achievement as well as increased public, private sector engagement in the development of world-class facilities within the properties of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Lagos State, and I am encouraging other states to key into the development of inland water transportation,” she said.
READ ALSO
Google invites startups in Nigeria, others to apply for $4m grant
According to the Perm Sec, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari recognizes the importance of the transportation sector to the industrialization and diversification of the Nigerian economy, hence it leveraged the sector by reviving and rehabilitating existing transport infrastructure and providing new ones as well as ensuring the development of professional capacity building for manpower to drive the sector.
She noted that transportation constitutes a significant factor in national economic prosperity as transportation facilitates international and local trades, supports food security, generates employment, delivers energy and enables industrial and infrastructural development.
Dr Nwanwuche, who commended Transport Day Newspapers, the organizers of the event for keeping Nigerians abreast with current global happenings in the transport and logistics sector, noted that the transport developmental strides of the present administration are evident in the rehabilitation of existing narrow gauge rail lines and the development of standard gauge railway lines to connect cities and towns within and outside the country.
The Perm Sec also stated that the development of deep seaports, and ports and the automation of the nation’s ports operations to facilitate the ease of doing business are the thoughts and evidence realities of the Ministries for sector developments, adding that the Ministry of Transportation is not deterred in its vision to evolve a world-class transportation system in Nigeria.