FG Unveils National Land Transport Policy, Targets Integrated Transport System
The Federal Government has unveiled Nigeria’s first National Land Transport Policy, saying the initiative is aimed at developing an efficient and integrated transport system capable of driving economic growth and improving the movement of people and goods across the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the policy, describing transportation as a critical pillar of the national economy because of its role in connecting workers, families, businesses, markets and communities.
Represented at the event by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Shettima said the administration was committed to providing the infrastructure required to support a productive, competitive and interconnected economy.
He said the government was moving away from developing transportation projects in isolation towards an integrated national network where roads, railways, ports, inland waterways and aviation would complement one another.
According to him, the policy is designed to ensure that transport infrastructure effectively links production centres with markets, ports and consumers while facilitating the efficient movement of people and goods nationwide.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, said the essence of integration was to ensure that the various modes of transportation operated as components of a single national system rather than developing independently.
Adebiyi said the government was also focused on connecting transport infrastructure to the country’s major economic gateways.
He identified the rail connection to Apapa Port as an important foundation for more efficient cargo evacuation, adding that the ministry was pursuing further rail connectivity to Tin Can Island and other strategic port and industrial locations.
He also noted that emerging developments around the Lekki axis, alongside proposed connections to the national railway network, would strengthen the relationship between ports, industrial centres and the wider transport system.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh, said transportation was more than roads, rail lines, terminals and vehicles, stressing that it was fundamentally about people, commerce and economic opportunities.
She said an effective transport system should enable farmers to move their produce to markets with minimal losses, allow workers to commute efficiently and help businesses transport goods across the country at reasonable costs.
Onuh stressed the need for greater investment in rail transportation, particularly for the movement of heavy-duty and bulk goods.
She said shifting more freight from roads to rail would reduce pressure on highways, extend the lifespan of road infrastructure, improve safety and lower long-term maintenance costs.
The lawmaker assured that the National Assembly was prepared to provide the legislative support and oversight required to ensure that the National Land Transport Policy moved beyond documentation to effective implementation.
She said Nigeria needed a transport system in which road and rail infrastructure complemented each other, goods moved efficiently, citizens travelled safely and public investment delivered sustainable long-term value.
The unveiling of the policy marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s effort to establish a coordinated national transportation framework and strengthen the role of transport infrastructure in supporting economic development.
