The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s transport and logistics sector through digitisation, strategic investments, and stakeholder collaboration.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Nigerian Transport and Logistics Leadership Summit in Abuja, Alkali described transport and logistics as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy” and emphasised the sector’s role in driving national development. The event, themed “Building Sustainable Transport and Logistics Infrastructure in Nigeria: Current Trends and Future Insights,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to chart a sustainable path for the future of transport in Nigeria.
Organised by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), the summit focused on leveraging innovation to address sector challenges and unlock economic potential. Alkali noted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, key priorities include the transformation of the rail sector, modernisation of pipeline infrastructure, and the adoption of future-focused technologies.
“Tangible progress is already being recorded across multiple fronts — rail, road, pipeline transportation — and various innovations aimed at delivering efficient service in line with international best practices,” the Minister said.
He stressed that government efforts alone would not suffice, calling on private sector investors and other stakeholders to actively support the sector’s transformation.
Earlier, NITT Director General Dr. Bayero Salih Farah highlighted the critical need for Nigeria to align with global trends, including sustainability, digital transformation, and the deployment of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things.
“The challenge before us is clear,” Farah said. “We must align with global best practices while developing home-grown solutions to our infrastructural, regulatory, and operational gaps.”
Farah added that addressing climate change, rapid urbanisation, and the growing demand for mobility and trade is essential for Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness in the global logistics landscape.
