The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that the federal government is making efforts to resolve issues affecting mass transportation in the country. He said this at an event organised by a radio station tagged: “Migrating Workforce: the Challenges of Mass Transportation” in Lagos.
He noted that the federal government is willing to invest heavily in the sector in order to address the problems of mass transportation.
Amaechi said,“In order to address the issues which the topic evokes, our focus will be in three folds; first, we attempt some overview of the value of transportation in a developing country like Nigeria especially what a viable transport system adds to the economic advancement of nations.
“We would reflect on the transportation system the country has had, its impact on people and the challenges to the nation’s workforce especially the routinely migrating population and lastly, we would ensure that we focus on the current paradigm shift in Federal government operation of the transportation sector especially the ongoing reform in formulation of policies and implementation of projects that would improve the challenges of the migrating workforce,” he continued.
“We will continue to make policies that will improve our mass transportation system. The problem of mass transportation is poor governance; by the grace of God we will complete the Lagos/Ibadan rail project in two and half years. In two and half years, we will also try to complete the Port Harcourt to Calabar rail. We are encouraging Dry Ports that will encourage the transportation of goods and services,” he stated.
He described the development of transport infrastructure as key to achieving the aspirations of government at all levels.
