NIHTE seeks Tinubu’s assent on road reform bills
By Matthew Denis
The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) has called on President Ahmed Tinubu’s assent on the Road Reform Bill that was passed by the 8th and 9th National Assembly which is targeted at ensuring quality roads network in the country.
The National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Saidu Hassan made the disclosure during his speech at the 2024 International Conference and Annual General Meeting held in Abuja on Friday.
The Chairman said ” Our roads, highway and the transportation systems are the arteries of the economy facilitating the movement of goods, services and people from one location to another. However, we face significant challenges including inadequate funding and resources, outdated technology and infrastructure, insufficient skilled personnel and poor maintenance and management.
“We’re advocating for a comprehensive review of the road sector to address issues such as funding, regulations and maintenance. We seek your unalloyed support to help us push for the presidential asset on the road reforms bill that was passed by the 8th, 9th National Assembly. “
Engr. Hassan explained that they are advocating for policies promotion safe, efficient transportation system by providing training and development opportunities, fostering collaboration among members and stakeholders.
The President and Chairman in Council of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala appeals to government to be deliberate to funds the construction and maintenance of rural roads to ease transportation of Agricultural produces into the urban areas.
She cautioned that if drastic effort is not made by the government in addressing poor state of rural roads the people will continue to experience food insecurity in the country.
The House Committee Chairman on FERMA, Hon. Aderemi Oseni ably represented by Hon. Olamijuwonlo Akala assured NIHTE of their support through legislation in ensuring better roads network in the country.
He tasked the government and stakeholders to think towards fixing the rail system that will connect the northern and southern regions of the country to reduce the burden on the roads.
The Keynote speaker and National Coordinator of Rural Access and Agricultural Monitoring Project (RAAMP), Engr. Muhammed Bodinga while speaking on the theme ‘ Rural Road Infrastructure: Catalyst, panacea and Cornerstone of food security’ explained that the causes of food insecurity are varied and complex occasioned by human-driven and natural factors such as bad roads, insecurity and erosion.
” Lack of access to the food value chain from the production, distribution, processing and storage facilities are responsible for food insecurity in the country.
The RAAMP Coordinator revealed that they have carried interventions in various states of the country fixing rural roads for farmers to have access to the markets.
According to him 19 states have passed the State Road Fund (SRF) and Rural Access and Agricultural Agency (RARA) bills with the target of improving the rural roads .
The highlights of the event was conferment of fellowship to 50 members of the profession.
