The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has agreed with those saying the present administration should focus on achieving its campaign promises and stop criticising former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The minister spoke in Abuja when he received the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the finalisation of the Draft National Transport Policy (NTP).
The I9-member committee was drawn from all the transport sectors and agencies.
Amaechi said there was need to invest more in the technological aspect of transportation.
His words: “I agree with those who said we should stop criticising the last government and do our own. We need to leverage on what we know. People are shouting intermodal transport. I went to the new airport in Singapore and I didn’t find one person at the airport. As you walk in, technology takes over.
“They also said in the next few years, they would introduce driverless cars. We should also think outside the box about on how to improve our transport sector and think less about how the sun and moon affects the sector or building more bus stops.
“We should see how much investment we can put into ICT. Intelligence transportation should not be ignored.
“What assure Nigerians is that under the Buhari administration, we would do everything possible to ensure that we maximise the resources which accrues to each ministry.
“I also assure you that we would take the next step you want us to take. Usually, people take experts contribution for granted, but the fact is experts know better and if we don’t come to you, who would we go to?
“We will go through it and I will direct the Permanent Secretary to give a copy to the Minister of State for Aviation while I read a copy. Once we are through, and we share our views, we will take it to the cabinet for approval”.
Committee chair of the Mfon Usoro explained that the adoption of the policy would make the economy stronger.
“Adoption and implementation of the NTP by all tiers of government will lead to a stronger economy and a profitable future for the transportation service sector, and for the many sectors that rely on transportation in a diversified economy,” she said.