Ogun Mulls Ties With Multilateral Institutions, Others for Seamless Transportation System 

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Government has said that it is considering collaboration with the National Council on Transportation, neighbouring states, development partners like the UK-Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility, and multilateral institutions like the World Bank, to actualise the vision for seamless multimodal transportation in the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the Executive Session of the 18th Edition of the National Council on Transportation, with the theme, “Embracing Innovations and Technologies For Sustainable Transportation: Tackling the Energy Challenges”, hosted by the state in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Abiodun, who emphasised the significance of strategic collaboration in the state’s project development and implementation drive, noted that the transportation sector plays a pivotal role in the sustainable growth and development of any state and the nation, stating that it was in recognition of this that his administration created a fully professionalised Ministry of Transportation.

Represented by his deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele,  Abiodun explained that the state’s strategic and geographically advantageous position, coupled with its current swift industrialisation and viable business opportunities, a proposed rail development plan would leverage and connect to infrastructure and services provided by Nigeria Railway Corporation and neighbouring, Lagos State.   

He noted that the move would create a sustainable socio-economic revolution, deliberately embarked upon to improve the ease of doing business, attract more investors, create employment opportunities, and boost the revenue potential of the state, which was the essence of his administration’s ISEYA agenda.

Abiodun disclosed further that plans were underway to establish and operationalise a Dry Port city at Kajola/Papalanto in the Ewekoro Local Government area of the state, along the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s Standard Gauge Rail corridor, adding that the city would feature complementary mixed residential, commercial, and industrial developments like its Aerotropolis.

While appreciating the organisers for the choice of Ogun State for the programme, the state’s helmsman said the event would foster collaboration and cross-fertilise innovative ideas toward driving transformative changes within the country’s transportation sector.  

Speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu  Alkali, noted that the transportation sector was a major cause of environmental pollution due to over-dependence on fossil fuel and non-availability of alternative energy which had raised environmental and socio-economic issues such as environmental pollution, fuel price volatility and economic sabotage.

“For Nigeria to be at the forefront, there is a need to adopt a multifaceted approach to accelerate the adoption of a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as modernising the country’s transportation systems by pioneering the frontier of green manufacturing and industrialisation, with a focus on natural gas as a transition fuel alongside other renewable energy sources,” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Micheal Oloruntola, said the purpose of the technical session was to chart a new course that would assist in embracing innovations and technologies for sustainable transportation to develop the transportation sector in the country.