NAN-H-76
Reform
By Kate Obande
Abuja, Dec. 7, 2016 (NAN) Mr Isa Emoabino, Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), has said that reformation of the transport sector in the country will deliver Nigeria from recession.
Emoabino made this known at the Third National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “Transportation Sector Reform: The Panacea to the Nation’s Economic Recovery”.
He defined recession as a significant decline in the economic activities of a nation over a period of time.
According to him, the fact that the Federal Government is the sole developer of infrastructure with its scarce resources is the major cause of the economic crisis.
“Infrastructure development financing anywhere in advanced countries is not solely funded by government but the private sector, thereby inflating the economy from both ends.
“Ours is a peculiar case where government is the sole developer of infrastructure with its scarce and extremely insufficient funds.
“Therefore, if we must pull our economy out of recession, effective reform must be carried out in the transportation sector to usher in the private sector into infrastructure development for funding.”
He attributed the poor condition of Nigerian roads to 45 years failure to reform the road sector to meet national needs.
He explained that in 1971, Nigeria was among the first African countries to start road sector reform process through the establishment of various policies but none had been implemented to the letter.
Outlining the achievements of the institution, he said that the Road Sector Reform Bill, Nigeria Railway Corporation Bill and the National Transport Commission Bill passed by the National Assembly were its initiatives.
He added that the institution will adequately assist the Senate in ensuring that the Nigerian Road and Transport Systems were safe.
In his remarks Mr Otis Anyaeji, President, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), urged participants to make contributions on how the sector could aid the country recover from the current economic crisis.
Anyaeji, who applauded the commencement of the rail transport system in Abuja, however, said that it was not enough for the country.
He noted that the transportation system would be effectively managed if all the modes were properly coordinated.
He, therefore, urged participants to adopt best engineering practices in their various fields of operation and be objective and transparent in their activities. (NAN)
KTE/NKO
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By Nkechi Okoronkwo
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