By Disun Amosun
Stakeholders in the nation’s Road Transportation sector on Thursday advocated for proper harnessing of the huge potentials offered by it as a means of diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila while declaring open a Public Hearing on the development of the sector said if fully attained, Land Transportation has the capacity of encouraging economic diversification as well as providing investment and employment opportunities.
Represented by the Deputy Leader of the House, Rep Peter Akpatason, the Speaker noted that bringing this about required the collective effort of all road users in maintenance and ensuring safety by road users and vehicle owners.
Gbajabiamila disclosed that Nigeria recorded 3,700 road accidents in the 4th quarter of the year 2021, and described the statistics as high considering the fact that many such accidents remain unreported and not incidental.
The occasion was a public hearing on a bill for an act to repeal the Nigeria Transportation Act and come up with another Act to establish the institute of Transport Technology organised by the House Committee on Transport.
The Speaker described Transport as an activity as old as human existence, and explained that the sector could be made to lift the nation out from the blues.
Chairman, House Committee on Transport, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas in his remarks noted that developing nations have an alarming figure of road mishaps which stood at about 1.3million per annum stressing that Nigeria is faced with a quagmire of road mishaps.
According to Mr Abbas, the House Committee on Land Transport is aware of all these menaces and is working assiduously to see how it can be brought to a halt or to the barest minimum.
He explained further that this was what necessitated the industry players meeting to brainstorm to bring to bear on experiences and knowledge to make the bill a better one.
“The Committee on Land Transport is desirous to promulgate laws that would turn around the transport sector within the shortest possible time”, he said.
On her part, Minister of state, Transport, Gbemisola Saraki commended the House for organising the public hearing and appealed that the National Assembly should repeal and enact the Nigeria institute of transport technology bill to offer courses of instruction and training for general development of transport and logistics sector of the Nigerian economy for junior, middle, semi cadre, managers, technicians, technologist, artisan and for related matters.
