Federal Government is developing a national transportation master plan
to diversify the economy and improve on non-oil sector revenues, the
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said yesterday, Wednesday.
Amaechi, who spoke yesterday at a
briefing after a tour of facilities at the Lagos airport, said the
master plan would reduce unemployment and develop the rural economy.
He added that the government was
determined to fully exploit the potentials of the transport sector by
opening it up for new investment.
The minister said if properly repositioned, the sector holds the key to unlocking the country’s economic potentials.
Amaechi identified the sector’s problems as including bad roads, inadequate fleet, airplane services and congested ports .
He said: “The government of President
Muhammadu Buhari is in the process of developing a national
transportation master plan that will be implemented as a fulfillment of
one of his campaign promises to diversify the national economy while
improving non-oil revenues.
“While reducing dependence on oil revenues, it will also develop the rural economy, reduce unemployment and urban drift.
“The problems of Nigerian transport
system include bad roads, inadequate fleet of buses and trucks;
irregular and inadequate trains and airplanes services and congested
ports.”
The minister also mentioned dearth of
suitably trained transport managers and planners, capital restructuring
bottlenecks, serious issues of institutional reforms and ineffective
traffic regulations.
“The Buhari administration is determined
to fully exploit the potentials in the transportation sector. As a
first step, the government will pursue the enactment of legislation that
will open up the sector to new investments that will lead to economic
prosperity,” he said.
Amaechi also revealed plans to re-introduce rail lines that would assist in the movement of petroleum products by next year.
He said investment in rail transportation could generate over 250,000 direct jobs .
The minister said: “The movement of
petroleum products by rail will be re-introduced in 2016. As you are
aware, we have commenced and almost completed the narrow gauge
rehabilitation which will be retained for the movement of cargoes.
“At the same time, massive investment
into the standard gauge to link most parts of the country with faster
trains for passenger movements has begun. In 2016, we hope to complete
work on the Abuja-Kaduna railway line as Mr. President is highly
committed to it. Work will start in earnest on the standard gauge on
many routes .”
On aviation, Amaechi said safety would
not be negotiable, as he identified the challenges of the sector to
including weak airlines and decaying infrastructure .
He said: “The ministry of transportation
in collaboration with relevant parastatals and agencies has drawn up
short term plans that are currently being implemented, of which the
travelling public will take notice of the improvements in the not
distant future.
“These plans include the expeditious
completion of ongoing airports remodeling projects at Lagos, Abuja, Kano
and Port Harcourt and the decongestion of airports access roads among
several others. The new terminal in Lagos will generate additional 15
million passengers annually, making a total of 30 million passengers
yearly nationwide.
“The medium and long term plans will
require significant investments to upgrade and expand infrastructure to
meet current and future requirements.
“As a result of limited resources for
capital projects development, government is exploring the possibility of
private sector participation to towards the realisation of the
industries’ potentials.
“The Ministerial Committee on the
National Airline has submitted its report to the President, which the
government is studying carefully and will announce its decision in due
course.
“In June of this year, Nigeria scored
96.44 per cent during the International Civil Aviation Security Audit.
Despite this feat, the nation can ill afford to let its guards down
considering recent events in the international scene, where passenger
airplanes have been blown out of the skies.
“Subsequently in accordance with the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and International
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) annex 17, the Federal Government is looking
to overhaul and streamline the security apparatus at the nation’s
airports for a seamless and more effective security surveillance and
enforcement. This will also improve facilitation and passengers’
experience.”
The Nation
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