A transport management expert, Dr Oluwasegun Musa, says lack of effective regulations and standards is negatively affecting the growth of Nigeria’s transport industry.
Musa, also the Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy, said this at a Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) roundtable on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that addressing the problem was crucial to the development of the industry.
Musa described the sector as a strong force and the heart of any nation.
“If the transportation sector is useless, it means that the country is having problems.
“This is an industry that has many sectors such as aviation and railway that can make huge impacts.
“From previous administrations, we had lofty policies but we should ask why they have not impacted positively on the economy.
“This is because we have not injected the spirit of transportation in the policy, and there is the need, if the country’s economy will migrate to a prosperous pedestal,” he said.
Musa said the Federal Government should look at the peculiarity of Nigeria and design a system that would work well for the country.
He said that the road sector was the most unorganised and unregulated sector, adding that many cars and buses were being pushed out of roads due to lack of regulations.
“If we continue to work on our roads in the present manner, we will never get it coordinated; this slows the economy, tampers with trade facilitation, and this is why we have unnecessary gridlocks,” he said.
Musa urged that competent hands must be deployed at all times to manage the aviation sector.
“Cutting corners abounds, multiple taxes, levies, charges drive the aviation sector, and this is not good for the health of the sector,” he said.
Musa urged governments to prioritise movement of cargoes through the rail for more efficiency and income generation.
He urged the Federal Government to encourage indigenous courier companies to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
“We cannot afford foreign participants to dominate the sector when we are talking about lack of jobs. We need to build capacities to allow our people to participate and compete well,” he said.
