The Director General,
Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr Aminu Yusuf, last Tuesday said the problems confronting Nigeria’s transport industry would only be solved with continuous improvement in infrastructure, technology and manpower.
Yusuf said this in Zaria while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport who were on a visit to the institute.
He attributed the short life-span of Nigerian roads to over usage, noting that road transport accounted for about 90 per cent of transport services in the country.
The director general said, “The road transport sub-sector in Nigeria is compelled to provide about 90 per cent of transport services required by Nigerians to move goods, services and people.
“This lopsidedness, no doubt, puts pressure on our roads and causes decline in the road conditions, apart from exposing motorists to hazards.  “This is further exacerbated by poor driving knowledge and skills among motorists,’’ Yusuf said.
He said stakeholders in the transport industry must be enlightened to develop the necessary capacity and competence for effective management and operation of the transport sector.
The director general commended President Goodluck Jonathan for giving the sector the desired attention through the transformation agenda.
Yusuf also appreciated the supportive roles of the Federal Government and the Transport Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives to the activities of the institute.
He said the institute had initiated various measures to conserve funds and execute viable projects.
“The initiatives are primarily designed to fund the institute’s capital projects and provide the day-to-day operating costs.
“It is pertinent to note that so far, the institute’s cyber library project has been completed and awaiting connectivity with other transport libraries around the world,’’ the director general said.
The Deputy Chairman of the committee, Mr Sokonto Davis, told newsmen after the visit that the committee members were impressed with what they saw.
Davis promised to look into the possibility of amending the law establishing the institute and facilitate more funds to it.
According to him, most times, there are things you want to do in a democratic setting, but you cannot do them until you amend the law setting up such institutions.
“We want to make the institute operate effectively and efficiently to achieve its set goals and objectives and this can only be achieved if the law establishing it is amended,’’ he said.