Unveiling of the Bilingual magazine today at Marriot Hotel, Ikeja Lagos
TRANSPORT POVERTY A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE IN NIGERIA.
…..as experts provide solutions to a long term success and growth in the transport industry.
A renowned global transport specialist, Dr Alban Igwe, has made it known that transport poverty is still a challenge that many Nigerians suffer from to date.
He made this declaration during his keynote presentation at the Annual Roundtable and Bilingual Magazine Public Launch, which was held 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 the 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 the urgent need for the government to develop transport infrastructure in order to create connectivity for investment 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.
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