ON THE SPOT MANAGER

States get to improve transportation infrastructure; that creates economic development, puts people back to work and, most important, enhances safety and improves local communities- Corrine Brown This astute adage emphasizes the need for every nation to develop its transport infrastructure which creates economic development, creates employment, enhances safety and raises the standard of living of the entire populace. In Nigeria, this onus lies with Mr. Rotimi Amaechi as the Minister of Transport and indeed all Nigerians  hopes he does get it right so we could benefit from the enormous potentials the transport industry  could provide the nation. The Nigerian transport sector represents around 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 10% of employment. In the past 30 years traffic has increased by more than 75%, while passenger movements grew by 110%. This has resulted to pollution and congestion. The roads, rail system, air and sea transports remain the arteries of a port’s economy because they deliver goods to citizens and companies alike, as well as functioning as a major source of employment.  Nevertheless, the port roads in Nigeria have become death‐traps, the water‐ways a den for pirates while the rail system takes one step forward and two backwards. This coupled with the congestion of city roads as a result of increase in urban population gives rise to a call for a new transport order. Let’s take a cursory look at ways of creating comprehensive urban development and transport policies to address deep‐seated social and demographic changes at the ports. One essential approach would be to strike a balance between different modes of transport. Our roads are cloaked with too many trucks carrying containers with items that can be conveyed via the waterways as Nigeria is blessed with a beautiful inland water system that stretches across more than 10,000km of navigable waterways. This water wealth comprises rivers, creeks, lagoons and lakes, and intra‐coastal waters. The railway can also be utilized rather than barricading our roads with trucks. To see the level this chaos has led to, simply visit the Oshodi‐Apapa expressway. It is also important to furnish other means of transportation such as the waterways and railway service with optimum services, security and safety which is obtainable via road transport. The problem is not that people aren’t aware that things and people could be transported via the waterways or the railways, but they feel it is safer via the roads and they are not wrong. The rail and waterways should be able to boast as much comfort and security to be able to encourage users. Connecting all modes of transport together would also contribute chiefly to the ease of access. Other long‐term solutions the new Transport Minister could explore include, upgrading the public transport system and creating high performance traffic management teams which would be very crucial to  creating an efficient transport system within and outside our ports.

“We must be diligent today. To wait until tomorrow is too late. Death comes unexpectedly. How can we bargain with it?” Buddha This wise saying by one of India’s greatest thinkers Gautama Buddha aptly exemplifies a distinctive perspective of death and …

The approval of the continuation of efforts by the National Boundary Commission to achieve a significant expansion of Nigeria’s maritime boundaries has received a nod from industry stakeholders. President Muhammadu Buhari who seconded the move by giving his blessings to …

The purported partnership between The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), to rid the marine sector of fake insurance policies which had caused significant revenue leakages to the economy has been greeted with the usual poker faced …

The recurring incidence of robberies while waiting for the red  light traffic, after dark, in Lagos metropolis have become worrisome, motorists have taken to beating the traffic light once it is past 9pm in a bid to avoid being robbed …

There is no woman who does not know a man 40 years and above – father, uncle, brother, son, friend, neighbor, colleague…. Essentially what I will be doing today is health promotion. Responsible health promotion must provide three things: 1.Information …

The long awaited ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari has generated a lot of debate as Nigerians have not stopped talking about the list which according to some fell short of expectations. The modalities as declared by the senate after …

The recent directive from President Muhammadu Buhari that key Federal Government organs, parastatals and ministries pay revenues accruing to the government into a Treasury Single Account (TSA), has started creating a boomerang effect in the country, leading to massive downsizing …

If the current drama revolving around the Senate President, Sen. (Dr.) Bukola Saraki, the Federal Government and the allegation that Saraki had falsely declared his asset while he was the governor of Kwara State, was to be put in motion …

When the news broke out that men of the Police and Department of State Security (DSS) had been attacked and killed by pipeline vandals in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, it came as a shock. What could have led to …

Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), had claimed that all the nation’s ports have perimeter wall fence in order to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining entry into the port, in addition to access control gates that are manned by its security operatives. …

When news first filtered into public domain that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, had been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to answer allegations of …

Egan is a relatively coastal community on the outskirts of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. It is a densely populated community, being home to thousands of indigenes and settlers from all over the State and indeed, from all …

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) claimed that it deployed 50 new scanners to the nation’s seaports, airports and land borders across the country to effectively manage the implementation of the new import regime, last year. But recent revelations coming against …

The recent ban on imports of dried beans from Nigeria to European Union (EU) member countries to prevent a serious risk to human health after border authorities consistently found dangerous levels of the unauthorised pesticide dichlorvos has provoked some questions, and …

We have been told severally in business management classes that no successful business was built without other peoples’ money. And then reading that the likes of Richard Branson, Aliko Dangote, Donald Trump have borrowed and are still borrowing to run their businesses lends …

Some sections of the country are noted for having retinue of brothers and friends or extended family members around while in public office. Sometimes this constitutes security risk or encumbrance to due process.   This was the case in the …

The sensation trailing the arrest of Sambo Mohammed Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA) to the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan and the subsequent search of his three houses in Abuja has rustled some unexpected feathers. …

According to the popular definition, Market is a place where goods and services are bought and sold. It’s a meeting point for buyers and sellers. Markets can be described as Modern or Shanty.   In Nigeria, only few markets can …

It is no longer news that the import and export business in Nigeria is booming and growing by the day, given the available statistics. This is visible by the beehive of activities around the ports. So many international agencies have …