The National Director, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mr. Paul Ndibe has described the National Transport Commission as the answer to various transportation challenges facing Nigeria as a country.
Ndibe who disclosed this in an interview with Primetime Reporters in Lagos posited that if the National Transport Commission bill pending before the National Assembly is passed, it would necessarily provide for the sub sects in the transportation sector of the economy.
He maintained that because the bill was yet to be passed as it was still being worked upon at the National Assembly, one might not be able to make a valid comment on it.
“But the expectation is that since it is a holding body for the entire transport sector, it will necessarily provide for all sectors both the operators and how they are going to perform, to be monitored and then the role of the investors and the level of control they may have and then the policy guidelines for operators so that it will be a seamless operation”, he said.
He however pointed out that the government had not been able to devote attention to intermodal transport adding that it cannot keep developing each modal unit independent of the other even as he suggested that there should be a rallying point where they would be interfacing each other.
He contended that except that was done as well as being provided under a guideline in the National Transport Commission bill, government would unlikely get it right.
On the activities of the Federal government on the transportation sector of the economy in the last eight months, the National Director stated,” The government is trying to focus attention on policy framework because over the last three months there has been serious discussions at the National Assembly on the land transportation limit of the Federal Capital Territory, the issue relating to the National Transport Commission bill, the issue relating to a new railway bill.
“So, these are policy framework of the government but the typical thing is when you engage stakeholders in discussions of this sort, one expects that you will be patient with them so that they will be able to integrate their concerns for your policy formulation so that it will be an enduring policy. Incidentally, I regret to say that the path was not followed and from the feelers we are getting, the new railway bill has been passed and the stakeholders are quite open on trying to see how the policy will be and how they can come in.
“But after the railway bill what about the National Transport Commission bill which should be the umbrella of the policies, while you have its segments like the railway bill, the maritime and even the road. So, the key thing should have been to concentrate all your energy on the National Transportation Commission bill, if that is out, the other ones will follow and in trying to create that, you make provisions for interplay of these modes. I don’t see that happening except it is in the pipeline but until everything is on the table, you will be able to make a clear evaluation on that”.
The ND therefore added that for the fact that a step had been taken in that direction, one would expect that investors would also rush in although the horizon might not be very attractive to investors.
“This would have been the best time for investors to come but with the uncertainty around the economy particularly with the FOREX issue and then the low productivity level in the economy, it may be difficult for investors to come in. But I think that if the government should sustain effort on that and come out with their programme, may be some people will venture into that”, he added.
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