The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has urged the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, to collaborate with stakeholders in fashioning a new national transport policy.

The National President of the institute, retired Maj.-Gen. Umaru Usman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that a new national transport policy was overdue.

Mr Chibuike Amaechi, Transportation Minister and immediate past governor of Rivers, had in December 2015 announced that a new national transport policy was in the offing.

Usman, who noted that an effective integrated transportation system was critical to the nation’s economic prosperity, said such a policy would help to drive the economy in line with the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

“As it is today, we do not have any operational transport policy for this country.

“I think it is high time this administration looked into the issues of national transport policy to drive the change agenda in the nation’s economic sector.

“We should have a national transport policy as soon as possible; proper regulation in transport sector will provide efficiency in the sector.

“We do not have a law to ensure proper the regulation within the sector, this is an area the minister equally needs to look into critically.”

The CILT president added: “Now that aviation has been brought under the transportation ministry, there is need for a complete overhauling and re-engineering of the entire ministry and system so that areas of waste can be completely eliminated.”

Usman urged the minister to give necessary support and assistance towards ensuring that the CILT bill before the National Assembly was passed.

According to him, the bill which seeks to regulate transport sector, has passed through the first reading.

Usman expressed the hope that bill, when passed into law, would impact positively on the transportation sector.

“We urge the minister to throw his weight behind the passage of the bill.

“The bill seeks, among others, to regulate the activities of logisticians and stakeholders in Nigeria.

“One way to stimulate growth in our economy which will translate into improved welfare for workers and a better transport system and socio-economic change transformation.”

Usman said the institute had contributed to curriculum development of several universities in Nigeria which run courses in Logistics, Transport, Shipping and other related fields.

Usman, who is the Vice- President of CILT in Africa, said the institute had in 2015 bestowed awards on stakeholders in the sector in recognition of their outstanding performance. (NAN)

•Photo shows Amaechi