Adedokun Waliyu 
The Federal Government yesterday assured importers, exporters and other stakeholders in the maritime and transport industry that it will soon embark on a door -to- door port service delivery across the country.
The service delivery will be through its massive shift for the connection of the rail, road and maritime subsector to reduce road traffic congestion and increase the competitive edge of the transport and logistics sector.
The government has also tasked transport researchers and regulators to collaborate to evolve innovative strategies that would aid in financing, sustaining and developing the nation’s transportation sector.
Speaking at the Conference of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in Lagos yesterday, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, said the Federal Government was making efforts to address the critical transport infrastructure and ensure a sustainable transport and logistics sector.
Importers and exporters, the Minister said, should stop wondering about how to get their shipment to their doorstep or warehouse because the port reform of the Federal Government is aimed at decongesting the seaports, “by taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters across the country”.
Sambo, however, added that a lot still needs to be done to develop the Logistics and transport industry. He said: “I, therefore, call on transport researchers and transport regulators to collaborate and use this platform to mine innovative strategies that would aid in sustaining and developing the transportation sector. I am optimistic that CILT Nigeria will do well in passing its wealth of knowledge to effectively support the Industry.”
He lauded the CILT for its consistency in enhancing efficiency in the logistic and transport sector by developing the capacity of men and women in the art and science of logistics, transport and supply chain management.
“There has been a massive shift for the connection of the rail, road and maritime subsector to reduce road traffic congestion and increase the competitive edge of the transport and logistics sector.
“I have over the years observed CILT’s consistency in enhancing efficiency in the Sector by developing the Capacity of men and women in the art and science of Logistics, Transport and Supply Chain Management.
“Dear Participants, the theme “Sustainable Innovations in Global Logistics and Transport” reflects the current global trends in transportation. The world is going green – engendering innovations to reduce the heavy dependence on fossil fuels which is the cause of high levels of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce Freight logistics turnaround time, noise pollution among others.
“The Federal Government is making concerted efforts to establish critical Transport Infrastructure to ensure Sustainable Transport and Logistics. Its ports reform programme aims at decongesting the seaports, by taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters. The recent Dala Inland Dry Port declaration as Port of Origin and Destination is a major milestone in that regard.
“In the same vein, measures are being put in place to ensure ease of doing business at the Ports. There has been a massive shift for the connection of the rail, road and maritime subsector to reduce road traffic congestion and increase the competitive edge of the Transport and Logistics sector.
In his address, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi, said that transport infrastructure remains germane to the promotion of economic growth.
“Transport infrastructure remains germane to the promotion of economic growth, improved standard of living, poverty reduction, enhanced productivity and improved competitiveness. Nigeria is currently faced with huge infrastructural gaps that have hindered its desire to exploit her rich natural and human resources,” Sarunmi
Sarumi, who was also a one-time Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, said that the transport and logistics sector is currently undergoing major transformation given the trend of technological innovations.
He added that technology is changing our lives and the way we do things on a daily basis.
Earlier, the National President CILT Nigeria, Mrs Mfon Usoro, said the conference was apt, especially as the world is moving towards decarbonization, adding that it keys into the global conversation about sustainability principles on how businesses, in particular, the logistics and transport sector are conducted.
Usoro said the conference, which has in attendance, policymakers, legislators, transport and logistics operators, academia, lawyers and students, will have an outcome of collaborative work in content development to position the country positively in the global Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
