CILT: Okowa laments Over Nigeria’s Transportation System, Advocates International Best Practices

The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday, decried the country’s freight transport system which allows goods to be hauled in a manner not consistent with efficient and global best practices.

 

The governor observed that since the 1970s, the rail transport haul has been relegated to an insignificant position coupled with non-functional inland waterways, attributing the reason the road transport now bears the burden of cargo distribution across the country.

 

Senator Okowa, who was represented by Engr. Victor Omoniyi, made the observations at the 2019 National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CITL) held on Friday in Effurun-Warri, Delta State.

 

With the theme of the conference being “The Role of the Railway in the Freight Logistics System of Nigeria,” a communique that will avail stakeholders with suggestions and challenges confronting the country’s transport system is expected.

 

Okowa advocated that maritime goods headed for the hinterland should be transported in a manner that encourages each mode of transportation to perform the function in its area of comparative advantage.

 

He noted that while it might be worthwhile to encourage the use of rail, particularly for cargo freight, emphasis should not be laid on one mode of transportation at the expense of others.

 

According to him, “since modern transportation system requires a multimodal approach: the integration of sea, rail and pipeline transportation, the critical factor is to control the entire chain of cargo distribution in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner.

 

“The essence is to adopt an efficient freight distribution system that will complete the cargo journey.”

 

Okowa stated that his government was in synergy with the Federal Government to restore the Warri Port and the Warri-Itakpe railway line to facilitate cargo movement, adding that the extension of the Itakpe rail line to Abuja was a welcome development.

 

Meanwhile in his keynote address, National President of CILT, who was presented by Deputy National President, Alban Igwe Esq., underscored why Warri was chosen to host the conference.

 

He opined that the oil-rich city arguably remains the first representation of multimodalism in Nigeria because it represents all modes of transport – rail, road, maritime, air and pipeline.

 

According to him, because of its surplus oil and gas mineral deposits and promixity to the Atlantic Ocean, Warri is the port of the future if well developed.

 

He added that the presence of the Osubi Airstrip, at the completion of the expansion of the East-West road, Warri-Benin road and the remaining 27km Warri section of the Warri-Itakpe Standard gauge line, Warri will attract investors, professionals and artisans.

 

Dignitaries who also gave short addresses at the one-day conference on Friday included former Minister of Transport, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire who was chairman of the occasion, Chief Tony Onoharigho, vice president (EAST); and Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Feeeborn Okhirah, who presented a paper, among others.