Minister lauds CILT Nigeria for efficiency enhancement as stakeholders want engineering institutions incorporated. 

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria has been tasked to include in its fold, both private and public engineering institutions in helping to tackle infrastructure challenges of the transport sector.

The aim, according to the stakeholders at the 2022 CILT Conference programme in Lagos with the theme: Sustainable Innovations In Global Logistics and Transport; is to support the sustainability and development of the nation’s transportation sector.

The stakeholders maintained that the transport sector can only thrive when innovations through science and technology complement research approach.

Declaring the programme open, Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, urged transport researchers and regulators to embrace innovative strategies that would aid in sustaining and developing the nation’s transportation sector.

The Minister lauded CILT for its consistency in enhancing efficiency in the logistic and transport sector by developing the capacity of men and women in the art and science of Logistics, Transport and Supply Chain Management.

According to Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo who was represented by the Federal Ministry of Transportation Deputy Director, Research and Statistic, Ibrahim Mohammed Biu, “I have over the years, observed CILT’s consistency in enhancing efficiency in the Sector by developing the Capacity of men and women in the art and science of Logistics, Transport and Supply Chain Management.

“The Federal Government is making concerted efforts to establish critical Transport Infrastructure to ensure Sustainable Transport and Logistics. Its Ports reform programme aims at decongesting the seaports, by taking shipping and port services closer to importers and exporters. The recent Dala Inland Dry Port declaration as Port of Origin and Destination is a major milestone in that regard.

“There have been numerous innovations geared towards converting freight vehicles to use sustainable fuels, employing advanced information and communication technologies for more efficient logistics, implementing new organisational concepts in combination with innovative vehicles, the combination of modes, such as rail, roads, and inland waterways to achieve optimum and sustainable use of resources.

“In the same vein, measures are being put in place to ensure ease of doing business at the Ports. There has been a massive shift for the connection of the rail, road and maritime subsector to reduce road traffic congestion and increase the competitive edge of the Transport and Logistics sector.

“Dear Participants, the theme “Sustainable Innovations in Global Logistics and Transport” reflects the current global trends in transportation. The World is going green – engendering innovations to reduce the heavy dependence on fossil fuels which is the cause of high levels of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce Freight logistics turnaround time, noise pollution etc.

On his part, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi, also urged the foremost transport institute to involve the services of engineers and other players from both the private and public sectors.

Sarumi who was also a one-time Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, said that the transport and logistics sector is currently undergoing major transformation given the trend of technological innovations.

Sarumi is also the Chairman, Mission To Seafarers, Nigeria added that “Technology is changing our lives and the way we do things on a daily basis.

“Transport infrastructure remains germane to the promotion of economic growth, improved standard of living, poverty reduction, enhanced productivity and improved competitiveness. Nigeria is currently faced with huge infrastructural gaps that have hindered its desire to exploit her rich natural and human resources”

“A lot still needs to be done to develop the Logistics and transport industry of our dear Country. I, therefore, call on Transport Researchers and Transport Regulators to collaborate and use this platform to mine innovative strategies that would aid in sustaining and developing the Transportation Sector. I am optimistic that CILT Nigeria will do well in passing its wealth of knowledge to effectively support the Industry.

In her earlier presentation, through zoom presentation, the National President CILT Nigeria, Mrs Mfon Usoro, said the conference was apt especially when the world is moving towards decarbonisation, notng that it keys into the global conversation about sustainability principles on how businesses, in particular, the logistics and transport sector are conducted.

Usoro said the conference, which has in attendance, policymakers, legislators, transport and logistics operators, academia, lawyers and students, will have an outcome of collaborative work in content development to position the country positively in the global Logistics Performance Index (LPI).