CILT President Tasks State Governors To Emulate Lagos’ Technology-Driven Transport System
By Roland Ekama
Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria, has urged state governors across the six geopolitical zones to emulate the Lagos State Government’s multimodal and technology-driven approach to moving goods and passengers.
Oyeyemi made the remarks on Thursday in Lagos at the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture, held under the theme “Multi‑modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth.”
A former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyeyemi said Lagos State stands out in transport infrastructure and that other states have the capacity to improve their transport sub-sectors to boost the nation’s economic growth.
He also criticized the multiplicity of identity cards issued by various federal and state authorities and advocated for a single identity system to improve efficiency.
According to him, Nigeria’s dependence on road transport is disproportionate compared to regional peers, and only about 30% of roads are paved, exposing travellers to high safety risks.
Earlier, the Minister of Marine and the Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, underscored the strategic importance of multimodal transport to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Addressing stakeholders, Oyetola — represented by Yusuf Abiodun Rasheedat, Deputy Director, Safety Department of the Ministry — said transportation is “the lifeblood of every modern economy,” essential for trade, national integration and industrial growth.
He reiterated the Ministry’s mandate over ports, inland waterways, coastal shipping and maritime trade, and stressed that the full benefits of the maritime sector depend on seamless links between ports, roads, rail and inland waterways.
Speaking on the lecture theme, “Multi‑modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth Pursuant to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Minister called for harmonised planning across road, rail, inland waterways and aviation to position Nigeria as a leading logistics hub in Africa.
He highlighted efforts to improve navigational safety, strengthen port operations, enhance maritime security and promote the Blue Economy.
Noting improvements in maritime security and reduced piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the Minister credited inter‑agency collaboration for bolstering investor confidence and facilitating trade. He also outlined the Ministry’s agenda to modernise port infrastructure, reduce cargo dwell time and advance digitalisation across maritime processes to boost competitiveness and integrate transport modes.
Oyetola pointed to inland waterways as an underused opportunity to ease road congestion, lower transport costs, improve safety and spur economic activity in riverine communities.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges including infrastructure deficits, a weak maintenance culture, skills gaps, regulatory and environmental issues, and the need for better inter‑agency coordination.
He urged collective action, calling for stronger public‑private partnerships and involvement from professional bodies, academia, transport operators, development partners and civil society.
The Minister also emphasised the central role of technology — intelligent transport systems, digital monitoring, predictive maintenance and data‑driven safety frameworks — in improving safety across all modes.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister said investments in transport and safety remain critical to industrialisation, regional integration and job creation.
He encouraged participants to use the lecture to exchange ideas and produce actionable recommendations to strengthen multimodal connectivity and transportation safety. He concluded by commending Transport Day Media for sustaining the lecture series and fostering constructive dialogue on national transport priorities.
Earlier, Frank Kintum, convener of the 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture and publisher of Transport Day newspaper, underscored the importance of transport safety to national economic growth.
He said the government has begun considering how to improve intermodal transportation across the board, hence the need for the lecture.