By JACINTA NWACHUKWU

The Federal Government on Monday signed a concession agreement with Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Ltd. for the implementation of the Smart National Transport Databank (S-NTDB) project to enhance transportation management nationwide.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Dr Bayero Farah, said the event marked a defining moment in the history of Nigeria’s transportation sector.

Farah also noted that initiative was an important milestone in the collective journey toward building a modern, intelligent, secure and data driven transport system.

He said the project was designed to provide Nigeria with a single integrated real-time source of transport and mobility data across the country.

According to him, the initiative aims at a centralised data-driven transportation intelligence system that serves as a comprehensive repository of transport- related information for Nigeria by consolidating data across all transport modes-land, air, rail and sea.

He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership and approval of the project.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Funsho Adebiyi, said the project would establish a comprehensive digital transport intelligence platform for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of transport and mobility data nationwide.

Represented by Mr Olusegun Omotola from the ministry, Adebiyi said the platform would provide government institutions and other stakeholders with reliable information for planning, investment decisions, traffic management, safety enhancement and infrastructure development.

“This project will be implemented through a public-private partnership arrangement using the design, build, finance, operate, transfer model with Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Ltd. serving as the private sector partner.

“This approach enables the country to benefit from private sector expertise and investment while safeguarding national interests and ensuring long-term public ownership,” he said.

The permanent secretary said the Federal Executive Council recently approved the project after extensive technical, financial and regulatory assessments.

According to him, the approval reflects the federal government’s confidence in the project’s capacity to transform transportation planning, management and security across the country.

Adebiyi said the project would involve the establishment of traffic management centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, development of a central national data centre and deployment of technological devices for vehicle identification and monitoring.

“These investments will provide the foundation for a modern transport intelligence system capable of supporting safer routes, more efficient mobility, improved transport planning and enhanced national security.

“The benefits of the project are substantial. It will strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve trans-term traffic management, enhance road safety, reduce revenue leakages and support national security objectives.

“It will also create employment opportunities, stimulate investment and contribute significantly to the federal government’s digital transformation agenda,” he said.

Adebiyi called on state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to support the establishment and effective operation of traffic management centres within their jurisdictions.

He said the success of the initiative would depend on sustained collaboration among federal and state governments, transport operators, development partners and the private sector.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, described the initiative as the foundation of a new national transport intelligence architecture.

Oyeyemi said the project would mark the beginning of a transport ecosystem driven by integrated and multimodal data systems rather than fragmented information sources.

“For decades, Nigerians’ transport sector has suffered from fragmented data systems.

“The Smart National Transport Data Bank project starts today as one of the most ambitious transport technology initiatives ever conceived within the Nigerian transport sector.

“May this initiative position Nigeria to a new era of intelligent transport systems, multi-modal integration, digital mobility management, infrastructure efficiency, national security enhancement, and evidence-based transport policy,” he said.

Oyeyemi commended Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Ltd. and other implementation partners for supporting the initiative.

In his response, Mr Hisham Radwan of Asia Arab Investment, Nigeria, Ltd. expressed appreciation to the federal government and other stakeholders for their contributions to making the initiative possible.(NAN)

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