ABUJA (Transport Ministry’ Report)- The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the present administration, in recognition of the Transportation Sector as an untapped goldmine, and in its quest to diversify the economy is making concerted efforts towards improving the Sector and making it economically viable, efficient and effective in terms of service delivery.
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Transport Planning and Coordination, Mr. Solomom Ishaya stated this at the opening ceremony of the Stakeholders’ Forum on Innovations /Solutions on Road Transport Operations in Nigeria with the theme: “Transforming the Road Transport and Mass Transit Operations Private Partnership” held on the June 14, 2017 at the Central Bank of Nigeria International Training Institute in Maitama, Abuja.
Amaechi said that the meeting has brought together Stakeholders in the Road and Mass Transit Sub-sector, with the purpose of; Showcasing Innovations /Solutions proposed by the Private Sector, to improve transportation in Nigeria.
Creating a forum for interaction and change –directed interfaces with key players, at various levels of Government, the private sector and development community,
Development of such Solutions /Innovations in various States of the Federation.
The Minister explained further that, the road transport sub-sector accounts for over 90% in terms of movement of persons and goods in the country maintaining that there is need for all hands to be on deck to move the sub-sector forward.
According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, during its first Annual Stakeholders’ Workshop in July 2016, had called on the Private Sector to provide implementable innovations in the road sub-sector, noting that proposals on various solutions on how to improve the road transport system in the Country had been received for necessary action.
Adding,“It is noteworthy to state that companies making presentations in this forum were selected from the numerous Solutions presented at a Two-day Innovation exercise for Solution Providers from the Private Sector in May 2017, admitting that the Select products for presentation today have been found to be very innovative and capable of adding value to the Sub-sector.”
The National President of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) who doubled as the Chairman of the Stakeholders’ Forum, Alhaji Musa Isiwele Shehu, while declaring the meeting open expressed appreciation over the turn-out of the participants. He called on the major Stakeholders in the Transport Sector, from different fields to be more committed and steadfast in improving the Sector.
