James Emejo in Abuja
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 over the weekend, 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.
He pointed out that at the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Initiative was approved.
This, he said, 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, Alkali said the Nigerian transportation sector was in dire need of a good and workable policy.
He 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”.
Alkali said 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, noted that it would serve as a blueprint to build a transportation system that would meet the needs of the people.
He further 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 included 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.
