Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has enjoined participants at the 9th National Council on Transport to evolve practicable ideas that will impact positively on the economy of the nation.

While declaring open the meeting at Channel View Hotels, Calabar, “Thursday, Imoke urged them to address key issue on modern road and rail transportation because of their relevance on the socio-economic lives and life style of the people, reasoning that the economic well being of the people will be enhanced greatly when the rail transportation project will be linked to the various seaports in the country especially the Maiduguri-Calabar route as well as the coastal route extending from Lagos-Calabar which is very critical.

Imoke, who said Hon. Ibrahim Isa Bio minister of Transport is committed to ensure that the ministry contributes meaningfully to the development of the country, commended him for providing the opportunity for participants to deliberate on the relevance of the transportation industry to socio-economy of the country, hoping that they would utilise their collective experience to address some of the challenges affecting the industry.

He reasoned that the concessioning of the seaports through a Public Private Participation (PPP) with the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transport will impact positively in stimulating activities at the seaports as well as boost commerce and trade, believing that the presence of the minister at the meeting represented that commitment.

The Governor remarked that the presence of Bio was an assurance that the Calabar-River Channel will be dredged to contribute to the economy and development of Cross River because the water way has played a major role in the socio-economic development of the southern part of the country since pre colonial era.

Hon Ibrahim Isa Bio, minister of Transportation in a welcome remark, disclosed that Calabar was chosen as the venue of the meeting because of its cleanliness and serenity as the most peaceful state in Niger Delta as it has not witnessed any kidnapping coupled with its interest in transportation development, explaining that the meeting is held once a year to take decision that will improve the transportation industry.

Bio said participants were expected to evolve a way forward that would impact on development as it needed a clear cut articulation in that direction, adding that the policy arrived at the meeting will impact on the lives of Nigerians.

According to him, they needed serious brainstorming so that at the end of the meeting, their decisions will improve the transportation system in Nigeria.