CILT urges quick assent to NTC Bill

ABIOLA Seun

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill to solve the challenges in the nation’s transport sector.

Speaking at the CILT Leadership Impact Programme (CLIP) and induction of new council executives in Lagos over the weekend, the President of the Institute, Ibrahim Jubril urged the government and the private sector to ensure the passage of the bill.

Jubril who added that there are enormous benefits in the passage of the bill said it would solve most transportation problem in the country.

“Definitely, the NTC will solve most of the problems in the commercial area because it is going to be a commercial regulator and in that case most of our transportation problems will be solved.

“We need so much of regulation in the industry so that we can have better transportation systems, more efficient transportation system and we can have transport system that is compatible with every other transport system in the world.

“Though, the NTC is awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari and when it is eventually given assent, it will help the industry grow.”

Jubril also urged all the stakeholders in the maritime industry to collaborate to end the continuous traffic situation along Oshodi/Apapa Expressway and the adjoining roads within Apapa.

”We are having series of challenges in our ports access roads. And the challenges still go to the truck drivers. This has affected the prices of goods that are imported through Apapa ports. Then what is the way out of these problems in our ports? There is need for collaboration among the agencies in the ports.

“For example these holding bays we have been yearning for? And for all the trucks to be coming to the ports at the same time. Outside that, there is need for Truck Transit Park (TTP) and such park should be at the outcaste of Apapa that can house all of them so that when they are called upon, they will come to the port. Now, they only call the required number that is needed at a particular time. In all, I think inter-agency collaboration will be the best to achieve that.”

On another way out transport dilemma, the president said that intermodal transport system would be the solution.

”Intermodalism is what is required in this place. It is the solution to all these. That is very important, we need making use of our waterways, barges, pipelines, rail tracks to bring in containers into our ports. So that we can see how we use flat bottom barges to carry empty containers to the ports to Badagry and such places like that.”

Also speaking, the Director General, Africa Centre for Supply Chain, Dr. Madu Obiora appealed to the Chief Executive Officers of all transport and logistics agencies in the country to rally support for the passage of the transport chartered bill pending before the National Assembly.

The passage of the bill into law would provide job opportunities for Nigerians as the transportation sector is the biggest contributor to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the nation’s economy

The bill would also professionalize the transport sub-sector for greater performance.

Dr. Obiora who specifically, called on the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman and her counterparts in the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Peterside Dakuku and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassan Bello who were inducted as fellows, to assist the logistics institute by engaging the executive and legislative arms of the government for the bill passage.

The CILT fellow said that passage of the bill will bring about standardisation and certification that would be accepted by all the agencies in the sector and the National University Commission.

According to him, “The challenge in the industry is that everybody claims to be a professional and to be able to prepare itself for all these CILT is working for the success of the sector”.

He also stressed the need for a database analysis of professionals that would serve as a guide for intellectual capacity to the relevant agencies.

Continuing, he pointed out that issues relating to research and data management are some of the key areas the bill when passed into law would address.

“As we speak, one of the biggest challenges we have in the industry is that of data and CILT is ready to work with the agencies to enable it move to the next level of 4.0.

He said CILT was currently undergoing the process of getting the latest technological certification and has also engaged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on how to extend the certification to members.