FG Begins Engagement on Review of Land Transport Policy in Nigeria

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu and his counterpart in the Transportation Ministry, Senator Ahmed Alkali, have held strategic discussions on the review of the National Land Transport Policy.

Speaking on this development, Bagudu said the interaction centred on the most important action that could ensure good results from the policy, especially the need to incorporate Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) arrangement to attract support from stakeholders.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, stated that at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Initiative was approved.

According to him, this was designed to ensure that the council captured some of the elements in the funding arrangement which could reduce the drawback that had affected or limited the implementation of the policies, the development plan, as well as the agenda 2050.

Bagudu, in a statement issued by the Director, Information, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Julie Osagie-Jacobs, however, commended his counterpart for the laudable policies and projects which he said, were necessary for the development of the country.

In his earlier remarks, the minister of Transportation, Senator Ahmed Alkali, said the Nigerian transportation sector was in dire need of a good and workable policy.

Alkali said: “It is in the realisation of this that I inaugurated a technical committee in January, 2024 to review past efforts and develop a sustainable Land Transport Policy framework”.

He added that the policy was focused on the traditional land transport mode of rail and road, which were currently the weakest links in transport and logistics value chain.

The minister, however, highlighted that it would serve as a blueprint to build a transportation system that would meet the needs of the people.

He also sought for an embracing consensus on the nation’s land policy that would stand the test of time and advance the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria transportation sector.

Other dignitaries at the meeting includes the Permanent Secretary, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, and senior management staff from both ministries