Transport institute advocates improvement in transport infrastructure

Abiola Seun |

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has called for increased investment in the nation’s transportation sector.

Speaking on Tuesday at the 2019 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Leadership Impact Programme and Dinner in Lagos, titled, “Airport Operations and Standards of Safety in Nigeria, the President of CILT, Mr Ibrahim Jibril said that numerous investment opportunities abound in the Aviation sub-sector in the areas of developing perishable cargo terminals for export, development of Aerotropolis’, construction of facilities for Maintenance Repair Organizations.

Others according to Jibril who was represented by the Institute’s Deputy President, Alban Igwe include more direct involvement in the operation of Maintenance Hanger facilities and commercialization of Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs) to deliver specialized trainings and capacity building of pilots, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), simulators, technicians, aircraft maintenance engineers, and crew.

He said much as some of these are already being taken care of, saying there is still room for improvement.

He added, “Thus, it is important for Nigeria to intensify efforts at strategically implementing such positive policies that will continue to result in the growth and expansion of our Transportation Sector, especially with the record of improving safety and increasing passenger volume in Nigeria’s local air travels, coupled with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) that Nigeria is a signatory to.”

Moreso, he said building capacity for efficient logistics and transport services in Nigeria is a cardinal objective in confronting the problems encountered in the efforts of developing the country.

Presently, he said the services sector accounts for over 70 percent of the global GDP. With the new turn in today’s world economy, he maintained that the role of logistics, transport, and supply chain which form the bedrock of the service industry cannot be overemphasized and underrated.

In recognition of this fact, he disclosed that the present administration gives priority to the revival of the transport sector in its entire ramifications by the rehabilitation of existing transport infrastructure, provision of new ones as well as ensuring capacity building while finding ways to improve financial capabilities.

He added, “We have investment opportunities in the rail sector, road transport, inland waterways, deep seaports, inland container depots as well as prospects in the aviation sub-sector. In Nigeria, the investment-friendly policies and regulatory framework to protect and promote transport infrastructure investments, as currently seen, are incomparable in recent times.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Ydudu has said that over 186 people who tried to breach the security by entering the airport illegally have been arrested by aviation security personnel in the last two months.

Yadudu who was the guest speaker at the award ceremony said that security is a very difficult thing to manage, one needs to be proactive and sustain it.

According to him, some of the 186 people arrested played mad mentally unstable, adding that arresting 186 people in two months is like almost getting close to four or five each day arrested.

He added: “A function of security has to be proactive. All the vulnerability we know, as we are trying to resolve them, cover it; but new ones will always open. There is no security that has no new challenges across the world. They always have new challenges.

“Secondly, our operation environments, we have issues of encroachment, people coming to the airport not for encroachment alone but vandalization. I mean active vandalization. FAAN will secure the airport, secure the fence and do everything, put surveillance but somebody will just come, destroy and go away. Active vandalization and encroachment and this is not something I do believe happens in other environments when it comes to developed countries.”

However, he said that FAAN is putting everything in place to ensure the airport is more secure, and that security of the airport is not compromised. He promised that in the next 12 months, there will be a change in the operations of airports.