Okowa Condemns Nigeria’s Transport System, Demands Global Best Practice

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  Four Shippers’ Council Staff Bag CILT Fellowship

By Kenneth Jukpor

Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has decried the country’s poor freight transport system which allows goods to be hauled in a manner not consistent with efficient and global best practices.

Speaking at the 2019 National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CITL) which in Warri, Delta State, the governor observed that since the 70s, the rail transport and inland waterways have been jettisoned as the road transport now bears the burden of cargo distribution across the country.

Senator Okowa, who was represented by Engr. Victor Omoniyi, at the event with the theme, “The Role of the Railway in the Freight Logistics System of Nigeria,” said that the communique should avail stakeholders challenges and possible solutions to the country’s ailing transport system.

Okowa advocated that maritime goods headed for the hinterland should be transported in a manner that encourages each mode of transportation to perform a function in its area of comparative advantage.

According to him, “since modern transportation system requires a multimodal approach: the integration of sea, rail and pipeline transportation, the critical factor is to control the entire chain of cargo distribution in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner.

“The essence is to adopt an efficient freight distribution system that will complete the cargo journey.”

Okowa stated that his government was in synergy with the Federal Government to restore the Warri Port and the Warri-Itakpe railway line to facilitate cargo movement, adding that the extension of the Itakpe rail line to Abuja was a welcome development.

Meanwhile in his keynote address, National President of CILT, who was presented by Deputy National President, Alban Igwe, underscored why Warri was chosen to host the conference.

He opined that the oil-rich city arguably remains the first representation of multimodalism in Nigeria because it represents all modes of transport – rail, road, maritime, air and pipeline.

According to him, because of its surplus oil and gas mineral deposits and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Warri is the port of the future if well developed.

He added that the presence of the Osubi Airstrip, at the completion of the expansion of the East-West road, Warri-Benin road and the remaining 27km Warri section of the Warri-Itakpe Standard gauge line, Warri will attract investors, professionals and artisans.

Meanwhile, four members of staff at Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) bagged the prestigious honour of Fellowship of CILT (FCILT).

The celebrated NSC officers include; the Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Bonat, the President of NSC’s Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, Mr. Bashir Ambi, Mrs. Onoche Ogenyi and Mrs. Rakiya Nuhu.

Speaking with MMS Plus newspaper on the accolade, Bashir assured that the celebrated NSC staff would see the conferment of CILT Fellowship as an additional motivation to distinguish themselves in their respective duties at the Council.