Nigeria’s transport sector derailed by outdated infrastructure, fragmented regulations — Gov Otti
By Matthew Denis
The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has lamented that Nigeria’s transport sector has, for too long, been weighed down by outdated infrastructure, fragmented regulatory frameworks, inefficient intermodal connectivity, and chronic underinvestment.
Governor Otti stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the 7th National Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA). He was represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu.
Otti said: “Transportation is not merely a means of movement. It is the bloodstream of commerce, the enabler of productivity, the bridge between rural potential and urban markets.
“Around the world, nations that have unlocked economic prosperity — Singapore, the UAE, China, Germany — have done so by building world-class transport systems underpinned by forward-thinking governance models.”
He described the current state of Nigeria’s transport sector as “a system trapped in the past,” noting that inefficiency and underinvestment have continued to hamper growth and economic development.
“It is unfortunate that Nigeria’s transport sector has, for too long, been weighed down by outdated infrastructure, fragmented regulatory frameworks, inefficient intermodal connectivity, and chronic underinvestment,” he said.
The Governor stressed the need for urgency in repositioning the transport sector, not through mere maintenance but through comprehensive modernisation.
“We must shift from reactive maintenance to strategic, future-proof investments. Roads, railways, seaports, and airports must be designed for the economies of tomorrow, not yesterday.
“Our transport networks must work together — not in silos. A truck leaving Kano must seamlessly connect to a rail hub in Kaduna, a port in Lagos, or an air cargo terminal in Abuja,”he said.
He emphasised that the era of digital transport systems has arrived, urging stakeholders to adopt smart logistics, GPS-enabled fleet tracking, and e-port operations.
Governor Otti warned that repositioning the country’s transport infrastructure without reforming governance structures would yield minimal results.
He called for a shift from centralised control to collaborative frameworks, empowering state governments and the private sector to take more active roles in developing and managing transport assets.
“Today, overlapping agencies and bureaucratic bottlenecks stifle innovation. We need a streamlined, transparent regulatory environment that facilitates rather than frustrates,” he added.
Governor Otti urged Nigerians to imagine a transport system that is integrated, efficient, and technology-driven.
He reiterated that repositioning Nigeria’s transport sector for global competitiveness requires collective effort.