*CIOTA National Publicity Secretary Drums Support for Project
The Chairman Governing Council and President of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has hailed the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the strides he has made in the transport industry since he was appointed into the federal executive council (FEC).
He specifically commended Amaechi for extending the rail project to Nigeria’s busiest seaport situated in the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa.
Jamoh who is also the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) spoke on the heels of the recent inspection of the rail track at Apapa seaport quay, Lagos.
He stated that when fully completed and operational, it would go a long way in addressing the challenges posed by Apapa gridlock over the years.
According to the Jamoh, the project would eliminate the huge economic loss caused by the poor traffic on the access roads to the nation’s seaports in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos.
He applauded President Mohammadu Buhari’s resolve in providing what he called “sustainable infrastructure” especially in the transportation sector of the economy.
Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of CIOTA, Mrs. Chizoba Anyika drummed support for the rail project linking the nation’s seaport in Apapa.
While noting that transport drives the economy, she reiterated the Federal Government’s focus on developing rail transport infrastructure.
According to her, rail transport was critical to reducing dependence on the roads and the economic consequences on the nation.
She noted that the institute’s desire was to see the seaports in the country as the leading ports in Africa and called on relevant establishments to take advantage of CIOTA progressive professionals who are ready and willing to partner in developing sustainable transport infrastructure in line with international best practices.
Amaechi was accompanied on the inspection of the project by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani; the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman; Chairman Governing Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mallam Musa Al-Hassan; and the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria.
Others are the Officer-in-Charge, Scanner Services, Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), Comptroller Paul Ekpenyong; top officials in the Federal Ministry of Transportation and its parasatals, as well as officers and men of the NCS.
Maritime Bits had reported that Usman had severally urged the NCS and other stakeholders to join forces with the management of the authority to curb the challenges posed by Apapa gridlock over the years.
