Alkali Assumes Office, Moves to Reactivate Road Transport, Mass Transit

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, yesterday, assumed office and disclosed his intention to reactivate road transportation and mass transit operations in the country.

Speaking at the ministry headquarters, Abuja, he hinted that in furtherance of sincere commitment to ensure the realisation of the “Renewed Hope” of this administration, he has resolved to ensure effective supervision, monitoring and evaluation of performance of all the departments of the ministry and its agencies to meet operational standard, judicious expenditure management and optimal productivity.

He said he would also ensure a sustainable collaboration with related ministries, agencies and corporate entities to reactivate the road transport and mass transit operations in the country.

His words: “I am delighted to be in your midst today and address you as the newly appointed Minister of Transportation. I want to use this medium to thank the Almighty God for His benevolence in making this day a reality and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for considering me worthy to serve my country in this prestigious capacity.

“As you are aware, the Ministry of Transportation was primarily established to facilitate the provision of public transport services and effective coordination of all the agencies and institutions under the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Transportation shall strive to ensure the realisation of its mandate and the mandates of agencies under its jurisdiction. This endeavour will assist to harness the resources of the nation, promote national prosperity and dynamic self-reliant economy  that will actualise the ‘Renewed Hope’ of the present administration’s developmental agenda of ensuring an efficient transport system consistent with the socio-economic objectives of the Constitution.

“In order to sustain this reality, the Ministry of Transport must assume a leading role of improving the public transportation sector to support the numerous policies that are geared towards providing democratic dividends that are accessible to ordinary Nigerians through effective provision of public transport that is secured, affordable and convenient across the country.

“It is important to state that the Federal Ministry of Transportation remains among the few Ministries that were established and, continue in existence from colonial period to date with little modification of name given its strategic place as gateway to the nation’s economy.

“This might probably explains why the Ministry is undergoing restructuring in response to emerging national economic challenges that require the services of the Ministry.

“Similarly, I will under careful study of prevailing economic trends, undertake the provision, modernisation, rehabilitation, planning and development of the rail transport sector with efficient security services to support the realisation of primary purpose of government.

“This initiative will no doubt maximise the potentials embodied in the recent constitutional alterations that moved rail transport services from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. It will also reduce the frequent menace on our roads characterized with accidents, kidnappings and armed robbery.”