MINA Blog- Nigeria’s Ministry of Transportation is committed to ensuring a vibrant, responsive, efficient and effective transport system in the country, according to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking at the Annual Ministerial Press Briefing on Landmark Programmes, Projects and Activities of the Ministry and its Agencies, in 2021 in Abuja on Thursday, Amaechi represented by his Minister of State, Gbemisola Saraki said the event was designed to inform the general public on the achievements attained by the ministry in the implementation of the erstwhile Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP 2018 to 2020).
He said the meeting was also to inform the public on the strategies and interventions devised for the execution of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2021 to 2025).
”It is in the realisation of this that government made transportation infrastructure a priority both in these two plans.
”The ministry is committed to ensuring that the nation has a vibrant, responsive, efficient and effective transport system capable of adequately meeting the needs of a modern, industrial and vibrant economy.
”The core mandate of the ministry is the provision and administration of rail and marine transport infrastructure, road transport and mass transit administration as well as intermodal coordination of all transportation modes in the country.
”Our vision is to evolve a world class transportation system in Nigeria and to position it as a hub in West and Central Africa.
”The mission is to establish a safe, efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal transport system in line with global best practices, while creating an enabling environment for public private partnership (PPP),” he said.
The minister listed some of its policies and bills that were under consideration to include; the National Transport Policy, the National Maritime Transport Policy, Road Transport Transformation Programme and National Transport Commission Bill.
Amaechi restated that security was fundamental to an effective and efficient transport system and fiscal infrastructure as security architecture was critical to a safe and sustainable transport system.
While sympathising with families of kidnapped victims of the recent train attack, he assured that the ministry was working with security agencies to ensure safety of those kidnapped.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, said the essence of the briefing was to keep the public abreast of the happenings in the transport sector.
”That is why we are here today to keep the public abreast of what is happening.
”And to let you know what Federal Ministry of Transportation has done in terms of project, programmes that contribute to national development.
”Transport sector as we all know is the life wire of any economy, it’s contribution to the delivery of an economically viable productive and sustainable economy therefore cannot be overemphasised.
”This has propelled the ministry and its agencies to strive to implement its goals and achieve its best targets through various strategies, policies programmes and collaboration with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders at home and abroad,” she said.
According to Ajani, the ministry recorded great achievements both in the rail and maritime sub-sector within the period under review.
While stating some of the challenges encountered by the ministry, she said it would not deter, as it was determined to deliver an inclusive and world class transportation system.
At the meeting attended by stakeholders and heads of parastatals and agencies under the ministry, they spoke on landmark achievements in their offices within the period under review.