Transport Minister Idris Umar says the Transport Sector Reform Bill will be fine-tuned and sent to the National Assembly to provide legal framework for an increased private sector partnership.
Umar, who made this known at the meeting of 12th National Council of Transport, said that the bill would encourage the removal of public sector monopoly and enhance productivity.
He said that the fine-tuning was being done by the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Public Enterprises and other stakeholders.
He explained that the objective of the Federal Government’s Public Private Partnership Policy was to meet the funding gap to make economically-essential projects commercially viable.
This, he said, would obviate government funding of such projects and allow private sector participation in projects.
Umar reiterated? government committed to provide enabling environment for private sector, states, local governments and foreign investors to invest in the nation’s railways, inland waterways, sea ports, Inland Container Depots and roads. ’
He, however, urged the stakeholders in the transport sector, particularly the states and organised private sector, to key into the sector reform programme and take advantage of the investment opportunities.
“We need to urgently improve the quality and scope of transport services offered to Nigerians in order to give users a choice of mode or combination of modes most suited for their needs.
“We need to further ensure that the national transport network adequately supports the economy and meets the expectations of Nigerians.
“It is only when we collectively act that we can achieve the modern, functional, multi-modal, integrated transport system of our dream,’’ Umar said.
Umar tasked all the stakeholders in the sector to put in place appropriate machinery for implementation of transport infrastructure development plan which the ministry circulated since 2010.
In an address, Gov. Gabriel Suswan of Benue, expressed disappointment over the deficit in transport infrastructure.
Represented by Chief Steven Lawani, the Deputy? Governor,? Suswan said there was a huge gap between the demand for transport and government’s ability to meet that demand.
He tasked the council to explore and find funding options outside the existing budget system to add to what was available in the budget.
“This calls for partnership in defining roles and complementing other actors so that resources will be optimised and not duplicated or wasted,’’ Suswan said.
The meeting has as its theme “Partnership for Integrated Transport Infrastructure for National Transformation’’.?