Nigeria must diversify beyond road transport to unlock growth potential — Oyeyemi

President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s transportation system, warning that the country’s excessive dependence on road transport is undermining safety, increasing logistics costs and limiting economic growth.

Oyeyemi made the call while presenting the keynote paper titled, “Multimodal Transport Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth Pursuant to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” at the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture organised by Transport Day Newspapers in Lagos on Thursday.

The former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) described transportation as the lifeblood of economic development, social integration and national competitiveness, stressing that no nation can achieve sustainable growth without a safe, efficient and integrated transport network.

According to him, Nigeria possesses one of the largest transport systems in Africa, comprising roads, railways, aviation, inland waterways, pipelines and maritime services, but has yet to maximize the benefits of a fully integrated multimodal transport framework.

He explained that multimodal transport safety entails the coordinated management of safety across all transport modes to ensure the efficient movement of passengers and goods while minimizing accidents, losses, environmental damage and operational disruptions.

“Nigeria’s transport sector has enormous potential to drive economic growth, but this can only be achieved through proper integration, improved infrastructure and effective safety management across all modes of transportation,” Oyeyemi said.

The transport expert expressed concern that nearly 90 per cent of freight and passenger movement in Nigeria is carried out by road, a situation he described as unsustainable and disproportionate when compared to many countries across Africa and beyond.

According to him, the overreliance on roads has accelerated infrastructure deterioration, increased accident risks and weakened the efficiency of the broader transport ecosystem.

“Nigeria’s dependence on road transport is disproportionately high compared to many countries within the region. This overreliance has accelerated road deterioration, increased safety risks and weakened the efficiency of the broader transport system,” he stated.

Oyeyemi further noted that only about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s road network is paved, placing enormous pressure on available infrastructure and increasing maintenance costs for government and transport operators.

Despite the challenges, Oyeyemi acknowledged ongoing government efforts to strengthen alternative transport modes through investments in rail and maritime infrastructure.

He cited the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway, improved operations on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor and rehabilitation works on sections of the eastern narrow-gauge railway as signs of progress toward reducing pressure on road transportation.

The CILT president also highlighted opportunities emerging within the marine and blue economy sector, noting that plans to achieve 24-hour port operations, strengthen rail connectivity to seaports and increase commercial utilization of inland waterways could significantly improve logistics efficiency and cargo movement.

In his keynote address, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe, stressed the need for Nigeria to accelerate the adoption of water-based transportation as part of efforts to address longstanding logistics challenges.

He argued that greater utilization of inland waterways would significantly reduce freight delays, ease congestion on major highways and lower maintenance costs associated with long-distance haulage.

He agreed that expanding rail and maritime transportation remains critical to reducing logistics costs and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Igwe also noted a more balanced transportation system would improve cargo evacuation from ports, reduce traffic congestion on major highways and enhance supply chain efficiency.

“Transportation inefficiencies have become a major contributor to food inflation and rising business operating costs. The economy is also vulnerable because of its heavy dependence on diesel and petrol-powered transport systems,” he stated.

Maritime and logistics experts who attended the lecture noted that reducing cargo dwell time at ports and improving connectivity between ports, rail lines and inland logistics hubs would significantly enhance trade efficiency and lower transportation costs.

“Transportation is not just a sector within the economy—it is the multiplier of national growth. When transport is efficient, integrated and intelligent, it accelerates economic growth beyond limits and transforms development into prosperity,” Oyeyemi said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Transport Day Newspapers, Frank Kintum, said the annual lecture was established to create a platform for regulators, operators, policymakers and industry stakeholders to discuss pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s transportation sector and develop practical solutions.

Kintum emphasized that transportation remains central to Nigeria’s economic ambitions and national development agenda.

He expressed optimism that recommendations emerging from the lecture would influence policy reforms and contribute to building a safer, more efficient and globally competitive transportation system.

“Our objective is to bring stakeholders together to identify challenges, exchange ideas and develop solutions that will strengthen Nigeria’s transport sector and support economic growth,” he said.

Participants at the lecture concluded that achieving a modern and competitive transport system would require stronger policy implementation, sustained infrastructure investment, improved safety governance and greater integration of road, rail, maritime and aviation networks.