Transportation key to economic development – Amaechi

By ODIMMEGWA JOHNPETER, Abuja

The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the Transportation sector is critical to the development of any Country, noting that it serves as enabler for the growth of other sectors.

Amaechi, represented by the Director of Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration in the Ministry, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, stated this when the members of the Executive Committee of the African Union of Transport and Logistic Organizations, AUTLO, led by its 1st Vice President, AUTLO, and National President of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Dr. Kassim I. Bataiya paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 in Abuja.

The Minister informed the audience that the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, has Transportation, Agriculture and Steel development as focal points.

Furthermore, he informed that the Government of Nigeria is pursuing an Intermodal approach to transport development with so much already done to revive and restructure the rail sector. He therefore called for concerted efforts and synergy from relevant Stakeholders to bring about the desired success.

Speaking earlier, the 1st Vice President of AUTLO, Dr. Kassim I. Bataiya, said that the meeting was significant for Nigeria in view of the fact that Nigeria was in dire need of unity and competition and being a Country with highest urban mobility needs, particularly in the area of transport infrastructure and services, it will serve as a good platform to achieving success.

He acknowledged the fact that traditionally, Nigeria plays a key role in the movement of goods and people within its borders and throughout the West Africa sub-region, and that since globalization has brought about new challenges that affect trade and other social and cultural exchanges among the Nations of Africa and the World, there was need to explore new window of regional economic integration.

He noted that AUTLO will serve as a veritable tool towards the achievement of these goals and bringing all transport Organizations and Stakeholders under one umbrella to discuss will help to finding solutions to African transport infrastructure problems.

 In his contribution, Hon. Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello said that transportation as a value chain was important as it is the spine that all other economies revolve around.

AUTLO as an Organization was formed in Marrakesh, Morocco on 14th March, 2018 under the leadership of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI with some selected African countries in attendance. The objectives include: to strengthen the unity, solidarity and fruitful collaboration between the various components of the Union, exchange of skills and experiences related to scientific research, environment, road, maritime, air, rail, safety as well as health.

Nigeria is presently hosting the 1st Executive Meeting of the African Union of Transport and Logistics Organization, AUTLO, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Nigeria chapter of AUTLO includes: the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, Nigerian chapter of the West African Transport Union, WARTU, Luxury Bus Owners Association of Nigeria, LUBON, and the Transportation Growth Initiative, TGI. The meeting had in attendance all Executive Members and Coordinators from 12 Countries of Africa..

In attendance were the President of AUTLO, Mustapha Chaonne, General Secretary of the AUTLO, Vaotlli Avlto, Nganga Henri, member Cameroon and other members from different African countries as well as stakeholders in the transport industries.