First land transport policy awaiting final FEC approval – Minister

Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali has revealed that the first national land transport policy has been finalised and now awaiting approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Alkali made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday at the 7th national transport conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) with the […]

Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali has revealed that the first national land transport policy has been finalised and now awaiting approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Alkali made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday at the 7th national transport conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) with the theme: “Repositioning Nigeria’s Transport Infrastructure and Governance Models for Global Competitiveness.”

According to him, “The first-ever National Land Transport Policy has been validated by stakeholders and is set for full Federal Executive Council approval”.

He commended CIOTA’s advocacy efforts and inputs “toward achieving this national goal, which has eluded the nation for decades.”

Speaking on the recent development in the rail sector, he said “The Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge project has achieved major milestones. The Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna segments are fully operational, while Kaduna-Kano is nearing completion. Also, the construction of the Kano-Maradi line (with a branch to Dutse) continues steadily, reinforcing Nigeria’s connectivity with the Niger Republic.

“Similarly, Work on the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge with its branch lines and two transshipment terminals is progressing, opening up the eastern corridor for commerce and inclusion. A new Ibadan-Minna Standard Gauge line has been approved to expand national connectivity and logistics efficiency.”

 

 

 

He also added that the unbundling of the Nigerian Railway Corporation is underway to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.

 

 

 

On E-Ticketing, the minister stated that the deployment of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) driven e-ticketing platforms on the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe-Ajaokuta lines has greatly improved transparency, accountability, and user experience.

 

 

 

He added, “To sustain public confidence, I have directed the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to set up a special committee to investigate challenges in ticket purchase processes, particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna route. A new route manager has been deployed pending the outcome of that review to ensure service integrity and efficiency.”

 

 

 

Also speaking, the President of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA) Prince (Dr.) Segun Obayendo noted that in different capacities across the country, CIoTA members’ exceptional leadership is steering policy at federal and state levels.

 

 

 

“The emergence of the CIOTA Consult as a formidable force in transport consultancy is not by accident. They are the fruits of our deliberate positioning and professional excellence. Yet, as transport professionals, we must be honest about where we stand globally.

 

 

 

He further called for more efforts, saying, “While we celebrate our rail renaissance under the current administration, while we acknowledge the progress in road infrastructure, and while we see glimpses of aviation sector recovery, we know that global competitiveness demands more than incremental improvements.”