Bisola David
The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration report, which was released on Tuesday, showed that over 200 people died as a result of boat accidents in seven states this year.
According to The Punch, CIOTA’s findings revealed that the accidents happened in the states of Kwara, Calabar, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Ondo and it also indicated that thousands of people had died in traffic accidents in all 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory.
This occurred as Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, presented the Federal Government’s plan for restructuring the nation’s transport industry.
Speaking on the topic of “Emerging National Governance Challenges and Prospects,” Shettima and CIOTA President Segun Obayendo addressed the institute’s fifth annual national summit in Abuja.
He demanded a national assessment of the industry, emphasising that it would outline the transportation sector’s best practices, structure, and compliance framework.
“Does our country have a National Transport Policy? Where are we on the National Transport Commission? How strong is our regulatory framework? This is the crux of the theme of this summit.
“It is better for us if we acknowledge that the government cannot accomplish everything on its own. We become safer, more secure, and more efficient the sooner we acknowledge that CIOTA is essential to the transportation geometric equation,” according to Obayendo.
In his own words, the government would deal with the transportation issues brought on by the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol. The Vice President was represented by Special Adviser, General-Duties, to the President, Office of the Vice President, Aliyu Modibbo.
Without a working transport system, he claimed, none of the eight presidential priorities of the government—from job creation to food security—could be accomplished.
“In order for us to fulfil our mandate, we need an effective transport system that supports the President’s key areas of focus.
“The institute’s recommendations, thoughtful policy formulation, designs of transportation infrastructure, and efficient operational management techniques across all transportation modes will be helpful,” Shettima said.
