By Kenneth Jukpor
The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) has reiterated the need to have national carriers, stressing that the national burden of war risk insurance and other arbitrary increase in freight charges would have been curbed if the national had indigenous ships.
CIoTA’s National President, Dr. Bashir Jamoh made this remark while addressing journalists in a media parley at the ongoing 3rd National Transport Summit, noting that the absence of national carrier has left the nation at the mercy of foreign shipping companies.
Dr Bashir Jamoh, however assured that CIoTA would build on its advocacy role to provide solutions to the problem of indigenous shipping and the attainment of national carrier in a bid to place Nigeria in a position to transport its cargoes.
The CIoTA President also harped on the need to review some of the transportation laws and policies, especially those that are over two decades old and hinder the attainment of modern and efficient transport system in the country.
Meanwhile, thirty new CIoTA fellows were conferred at the summit, ncluding Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko; the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime; Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Dr George Moghalu and a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Ade Dosunmu.
Some other prominent personalities brought onboard by CIOTA as fellows include; the three Executive Directors of NIMASA, namely; Executive Director Finance and Administration, Dr Chudi Offordile, Executive Director Cabotage Services, Victor Ochei and Executive Director Operations, Mr Shehu Ahmed.
Others are; former Commissioner of Transportation for Lagos State Government, Dr Kayode Opeifa, Permanent Secretary of Yobe State Government, Geidam Mustapha Abba, maritime lawyer, Osuala Emma Nwagbara, Akujobi Celestine, Registrar of CIOTA, Rasheed Aiyelabegan among others.
Speaking at the summit, the Chairperson of Nigerian Transport Commissioners Forum and Commissioner of Transport, Niger State, Hon. Rahmatu Mohammed assured that the Commissioners’ Forum would partner CIoTA in addressing the numerous issues plaguing the nation’s transport sector.
Rahmatu expressed delight that the Institute graciously invited the Commissioner’s Forum to participate at the summit, noting that the forum is committed to improving the transportation sector in the country.
The ongoing 3-day National Transport Summit with theme; “Regulating the Transport Sector in Nigeria: The State of the Art and the Years Ahead”, kickstarted at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, yesterday.
