Transport unions in Ebonyi have unanimously endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru for a second tenure in office due to the “impeccable achievements in his first tenure”.

The endorsement which followed a colourful parade through streets of Abakaliki, culminated in the grand affirmation at Pa Ngele Oruta stadium, Abakiliki by members of the unions.

The General Manager of the Ebonyi State Transport Corporation (EBOTRANS) Mrs Jennifer Igwe disclosed that the endorsement was triggered by the massive development of the governor in the transport sector.

“The achievements of the governor are legendary and impactful.

“The implementation of the Peoples’ Charter of Needs mantra, general growth and transformation of the state have created opportunities and effective services to the people.

“Governor Nwifuru purchased 20 brand new vichicles for EBOTRANS which has assisted the company to render effective services while establishing new routes across the state and beyond,”.

Mr James Igwe, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTETAN) said the endorsement of governor Nwifuru.was.borne out of his massive developmental strides in Ebonyi.

The Chairman of the occasion,. Hon. Stanley Mbam, thanked the transporters for organising such a wonderful event to endorse the governor.

Mbam who is the Commissioner for Works in the state, said that the gathering has shown the love, respect and regard of transporters towards the governor.

“I commend the effectiveness of your policies and services presently especially in the area of booking which has made transport services more comfortable and reliable,”.

The Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Stanley Okoro–Emegha said the governor has done well in office and deserve all accolades he can get.

Okoro–Emegha represented by the Vice Chairman of the party, Mr. Chinedu Nwali charged the electorate to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to vote for the governor in appreciation.

The Ebonyi state Commissioner for Transport, Prince Emeka Igboke appreciated the unions for their show of love and solidarity, tasking them to render good transport service to Ebonyi people.

“The governor has the support of Ebonyi people and we should make him proud by being good ambassadors of the state in our various areas of operation,”.

The motion for the endorsement of the governor was moved by Mr James Igwe and seconded by Mr Obinna Nwofoke.

Governor Francis Nwifuru in appreciation,, thanked the transport unions and all others who have endorsed him, noting that he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of support received.

Nwifuru represented by the Chief of staff, Ebonyi State Government House, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu thanked the transport unions for contributing to the development of the state.

” I am highly motivated by this show of support and pledge to continue enhancing the well-being of the people,”.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, says Nigeria’s transport system requires urgent, predictive and integrated solutions across modes to boost efficiency and growth.

CILT’s Chairman of Council, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said this at the Global Transport Policy (GTP) 2026 Annual Multimodal Roundtable, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The roundtable had the theme, ‘Transforming Nigeria’s Transport System: Integrating Solutions for Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability’.

Oyeyemi said that focus had shifted to predictive transport safety, high-efficiency logistics reform and green transition.

He said that there was also focus on governance frameworks, financing models, futuristic mobility, and human capacity development as critical pillars for transformation.

“Nigeria, with no fewer than 240 million people, spans 923,000 square kilometres, boasts of 830 kilometres of coastline, and operates an extensive but fragmented transport network requiring urgent modernisation and coordination.

“The country’s road network exceeds 204,000 kilometres, yet only about 5,000 are federal roads, with states and local governments managing the majority under a complex governance structure.

“With more than 14 million drivers and rising population pressures, transport demand continues to surge, exposing deep inefficiencies and highlighting the urgency for a functional multimodal transport system nationwide,” he said.

He said that multimodal transport – integrating road, rail, inland waterways, and pipelines – remained poorly connected, with no true inter-state integration, worsening mobility challenges and economic inefficiencies.

Oyeyemi said that in spite of heavy investments in roads, bridges, rail, and ports, poor maintenance, weak institutions, lack of data, and accountability gaps had undermined performance and sustainability.

“Overloading of trucks, absence of weighbridges, and weak enforcement have accelerated infrastructure deterioration, with stationary heavy vehicles on bridges further increasing structural risks and failures,” he said.

He said that Nigeria invested heavily in transport assets and would need integration, intelligence and systems management to maximise returns and ensure efficient mobility.

He said that lack of policy continuity, data-driven planning, and integrated transport governance would make Nigeria’s transport sector to be constrained, limiting economic growth and increasing the cost of doing business.

Earlier, the Chairman of GTP, Dr Oluwasegun Musa, said that the theme of the event was apt.

According to him, data has shown that Nigeria loses N3.2 trillion yearly to inefficiencies, with logistics costs exceeding 42 per cent of gross domestic product.

He said that road dominance, weak rail usage and high fatalities still characterised the nation’s transport system.

Musa highlighted institutional gaps, including 18 per cent workforce digitisation and skills deficit.

He said that sustained investment in human capacity was essential to achieving resilient, technology-driven, and an efficient transport system.

He urged an integrated multimodal system, smart mobility adoption and stronger public-private partnerships.

“The roundtable must deliver actionable solutions for a safer and greener transport future,” he said

The Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) 2026 Annual Transport Summit is scheduled for September in Lagos and with the theme: Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics.

The group, in a statement on Monday, said the event, would convene key stakeholders across Nigeria’s transportation value chain.

According to it, the chain include aviation, maritime, rail, road transport, and logistics services — alongside policymakers, regulators, captains of industry, financial institutions, and development partners.

TCAN said that in line with ongoing reforms and infrastructure investments across the sector, the 2026 TCAN conference aims to critically examine how efficient transportation logistics can serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, trade facilitation, job creation, and regional integration.

It leader, Tola Adenubi affirmed that transportation logistics remained the backbone of economic development.

“From cargo handling at airports and seaports to inland freight movement and last-mile delivery systems, the efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics ecosystem plays a decisive role in determining the competitiveness of the nation’s economy.

“The Transport Summit will therefore explore innovative strategies, digital transformation, infrastructure financing, public-private partnerships, and regulatory frameworks necessary to optimize the sector,” he said.

On his part, the 2026 Conference Committee Chairman, Suleiman Idris explained that participants at the event would engage in high-level panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive sessions.

He noted that the sessions are designed to among others access the current state of Nigeria’s transportation logistics architecture and Identify bottlenecks hindering seamless cargo and passenger movement.

According to him, stakeholders will also examine the impact of multimodal transport integration on economic expansion, and highlight investment opportunities within the logistics and supply chain ecosystem.

Suleiman added that experts would equally proffer policy recommendations to enhance efficiency and global competitiveness at the gathering.

The TCAN Transport Summit will also recognise agencies of government, and other operators who have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria’s transportation sector by presenting Champions of Transport Industry Development (COTID) certificates to outstanding agencies and operators.

The TCAN Annual Transport Summit has, over the years, become a credible platform for constructive dialogue between government agencies and logistic operators in the Nigerian transportation sector.

The Summit continues to shape policy conversations and promote transparency and accountability within the Nigerian transportation industry.

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) says it is set to address the abnormalities in its operation.

The Chairman, AUATON, Lagos State Council, Mr Azeez Jaiyesimi, said this in a statement issued by Mr Steven Iwindoye, the Public Relations Officer, AUATON Lagos State Chapter, on Monday.

Jaiyesimi said two-thirds of AUATON members across the federation had called for a special delegate conference/congress, to address the issues bedeviling the union.

“This urgent call is borne out of the need to rewrite the abnormalities in the union’s activities, and to restore order; dignity; accountability; and transparency in our collective movement.

“We are also calling on the President of the union, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran, and the Acting Secretary to do the needful by immediately forwarding all required documents and necessary details to the Nigeria Labour Congress .

“This is a critical step towards proper recognition, documentation, and a clear way forward for the union.

“Enough is enough! We can no longer allow app companies to keep playing on our intelligence while exploiting our sweat and sacrifice. This is our industry, and there must be dignity in our labour.

“The principle of UBUNTU – ”I am because we are”, must not remain a slogan. It must be lived out in action, unity, and accountability,” he said.

The chairman said the forthcoming special delegate conference/congress would serve as a crucial turning point to address reforms, strengthen internal structures, and reposition AUATON to serve the interest of all app-based transporters nationwide.

The Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy (GTP), Dr Oluwasegun Musa, on Monday in Lagos, emphasised the need for a transport policy which would meet Nigeria’s interest.

Musa made the call at a news conference to herald the second edition of the GTP Conference coming up on May 15, in Lagos.

Musa said that Nigeria would need to adopt best practices, adding that the country would need a holistic transport policy to do better.

He noted that transport infrastructure were capital intensive, adding that the aim of the GTP Conference was to woo investors that would be willing to finance the infrastructure.

He added that the conference was aimed at enhancing collaborations.

“Transport policy is not something you give to a consultant to write, it is something you bring all major actors together to design to meet the demand of the economy.

“We must design our own transport policy to meet our national interest, and that is the time we begin to get it right and have investors.

“It is not enough for private sector operators like us to put our resources without concessions from anywhere. We are trying to partner with government and enhance whatever policy government is trying to bring on board,” he said.

He said that transport was a strong force behind every economy and getting it right meant getting the economy right.

Mr Marka Onuche, Director, Strategic and Business Development at GTP, said that the organisation came up with series of engagement with the government and other stakeholders to ensure the country would have a transport policy.

“This conference is a way to build momentum around the development.

“As long as the world is moving, Nigeria needs to move with it, Nigeria needs to leapfrog, and the policy is the way to go,” he said.

Mrs Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, Chairman, Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd., said that the outcome of the GTP Conference should be used to determine how to move forward in revatilising and sustaining the transport architecture of Nigeria.

“The conference promises to be interesting because we are going to discuss value chain of the transport system and the architecture of Nigeria, with four systems – road, rail, water and air transport.

“We are going to find solutions to how Nigeria can use technology, innovation, expertise to know where each transport system ought to be in the 21st Century.

“We will find solutions and provide a communique that the Federal Government can work on,” she said.

Other personalities at the news conference include Dr Olusegun Awe-Obe, Director, Administration and Human Resources at GTP, and Ms Regina Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of GTP Magazine.

The GTP conference will have the theme, ”Sustainable Transportation Systems, Global Best Practices and Lessons for Nigeria”.

Its panel sessions will have sub-themes such as “Building for the Future: Global Best Practices in Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Development”, and “Connecting the Dot: Global Best Practices in Integrated and Multimodal Transport System”.

Dignitaries expected in the conference are the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority and that of Nigerian Railway Corporation, among others.

The Chairman of Africa Forum, Mr Ibrahim Jubril, says sustainable logistics and green transport will create a more equitable, prosperous and resilient Africa apart from reducing emissions.

Jubril, also the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, International Vice President, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

He spoke at the 2025 Africa Forum and Conference at Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda.

“Together, we can build a future where economic growth and environmental management are conjointly handled.

“Before we dive in, I want to leave you with this thought: The future of transport in Africa should not just be about getting from Point A to Point B, it should be about ensuring Point B still exists in 100 years.

“So, let’s get started, share ideas, challenge each other, and most importantly, let’s keep the discussion alive, because solving big problems works better when we are talking to each other,” he said.

He noted that the conference on Sustainable Logistics and Green Transport Development for Africa was not only timely but should be characterised by careful evaluation and judgment.

He added that this was as they sail through the demanding situations of changes in the world’s climate, urbanisation, and economic development.

“Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: Green transport in Africa? Should we just go back to riding Camels?

“No, while camels are energy-efficient and come with built-in reserved tanks for durability and long range, I am afraid their cargo capacity is limited.

“So, let’s focus on realistic, innovative, and sustainable solutions that do not involve negotiating with wildlife,” he said.

He said that with its rapidly growing population, expanding urbanisation, and increasing trade activities, the demand for efficient logistics and transport systems in Africa was on the increase

He added that this growth however, must recognise the need to reduce carbon emissions, protect natural resources and build solid structure to resist climate change.

“Literally, Africa is a continent on the move. Our cities are growing, trade is booming, and with that comes the challenge of reducing emissions while keeping economies running.

“It is like trying to change the wheels on a speeding bus, but luckily, this conference is full of experts who know how to do it safely.

“Sustainable logistics and green transport are essential pillars for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action),” he said.

He noted that Africa could unlock significant economic opportunities while safeguarding the environment for future generations by transitioning to cleaner and more efficient transport systems.

Jubril said there was great potential for innovation; from the adoption of Electric Vehicles and renewable energy-powered public transport to the development of smart logistics networks and green supply chains.

“What efforts are in place to progress from traditional, carbon-intensive models to embracing cutting-edge solutions?

“Africa has abundant opportunities in renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind and hydropower which positions it as a global leader in the green energy revolution.

“What collaborative efforts are we putting in place for governments, private sector players, development partners, and civil society to work together to create enabling policies, invest in sustainable infrastructure, and foster innovation?

“What are we doing to ensure inclusivity, so that rural and underserved communities benefit from these advancements,” he asked?

He noted that there was a need to explore electric mobility, smart logistics and renewable energy in transport.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says that Non-Motorised Transportation (NMT) is a major element that has been prioritised in the state’s transport policy.

Osiyemi said this at the 2024 World Car-Free Day celebrated on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Car-Free Day is celebrated every year on or around Sept. 22 in cities across the globe.

During this event, people are encouraged not to use their cars for a day.

Osiyemi said that in prioritising and promoting NMT, government would continue to incorporate infrastructure for non-motorised means of transportation into its future plans and road designs.

According to Osiyemi, the maiden edition of the Day, held on Sept. 23, 2022, promoted non-motorised form of transportation, otherwise known as active transportation.

He said that non-motorised transport included walking, cycling, skating and other small-wheeled form of transportation.

“Today, we come together again to embrace a vision of our cities and communities that prioritises sustainability, health and well-being.

“By leaving our cars at home, we are taking a significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint, improving air quality, and creating safer, more liveable spaces for residents of our dear state.

“This day is not just about giving our cars a rest; it is about reimagining our urban landscapes. It is about enjoying the simple pleasures of walking, cycling, and using public transport.

“It is about connecting with our neighbours, exploring our local environment and experiencing the freedom that comes with less traffic and cleaner air,” he said.

The commissioner pointed out that just 11 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling could lower the risk of an early death.

He stressed that it could also reduce the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.

Osiyemi said that the steps taken today were towards a greener and healthier future.

“Let us use this opportunity to reflect on how we can incorporate these practices into our daily lives, making sustainable choices that benefit our planet and our communities,” he said.

He said that government was trying to encourage NMT and give it more attention and importance, adding that it was working on addressing both the infrastructure and culture challenges.

Also commenting, Mrs Olamide Ejorh, Executive Director, Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), a non-profit organisation, advocated for sustainable transportation in urban areas.

Ejorh noted that beyond celebrating the car-free day, it was trying to work with the Lagos State Government on improving road infrastructure and promoting the use of electric buses and cars.

“Actually, Lagos State has a lot they are doing, they are looking into including cycling and working on data collection around the Marina towards that end.

“We started urging Lagos State on this issue at the end of the design of the NMT policy. Since then, it has been trying to integrate the NMT policy into Lagos transport policy and this is very key.

“If it is included, it means they are thinking about people that are walking, cycling on how they can do it safely, securely and regularly.

“At the moment, people do cycling because of sports and health reasons but it can be done everyday if the person works not too far away from home and within estates,” she said.

Dr Oluwasegun Musa, the Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy (GTP) Ltd., has stressed the need for a sustainable conversation for an excellent transport infrastructure blueprint to boost Nigeria’s economic development.

108scoop reports that Musa spoke at a media conference on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that a sustainable blueprint for transport infrastructure would facilitate the movement of people, goods, and ideas across climes and nations.

Musa noted that the blueprint would enable states to engender comprehensive transport growth for economic impact through strategic collaborations to reinforce national advancement.

He added that each state had potential that should be identified and harnessed to encourage investments.

The chief consultant said that the forthcoming GTP annual roundtable would unveil the critical components of the transport industry as prime enablers for rapid growth.

He noted that efficient trade, innovation and social cohesion would be guaranteed with efficient transportation networks.

“The conversation will take place at the GTP Annual Roundtable and Bilingual Magazine public launch slated for April 24.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Lagos State Governor, Ministers of Transport, Aviation & Aerospace Development, Marine & Blue Economy, Industry, Trade & Investment and Foreign Affairs among others will attend.

“The keynote presentation will be delivered by Dr Alban Igwe, a seasoned global transport specialist, who will be shaping the conversation around the theme of holistic engagement.

“The first panel session will have critical agencies of government like the Nigeria Railway Corporation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Central Bank of Nigeria who will engage in a roundtable discourse,” he said.

He said the theme: ‘Transport Infrastructure and Strategic Policy Intervention: Building Blocks for Economic Growth’, captures the desires of stakeholders and a call to action across the spectrum of industry players.

“Trends and developments in recent times have shown the need for this urgent conversation to foster economic growth in the transport industry.

“International diplomats from embassies of France, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States will be delivering justice to the second-panel session titled: “Intermodal Transport in the 21st Century: Trends, Developments and Policies in Developed Nations,” he said.

Musa added that the conference would serve as an official launch of Global Transport Policy Magazine, a bilingual magazine produced quarterly, with authoritative trend-spotting and compelling cross-cutting analysis.

“Global Transport Policy Magazine is aimed at helping local and international governments shape workable policies and perspectives for better outcomes.

“This compendium catalogs global trends, events, innovations, challenges and solutions for holistic analysis and stakeholder engagement with broad industry insight and cutting-edge research,” he said.

Also speaking, Igwe stressed that sustainable conversation with strategic moves was very important in actualising Nigeria’s potential in the transport industry.

“We should see ourselves as problem solvers and jettison the notion that this move will not work as others before it did not work.

“Many things hinder our growth in the country, we should be part of those to make the change and we can achieve this by rejigging ourselves to achieve the potential in the sector,” he said.