The Chartered Institute of
Transport and Logistics (CITL) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration to enact policies that would enhance safety on roads and airports for the socio-economic development of the country.
The National President-elect of the institute, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, told newsmen on the sideline of the institute’s just-concluded 2015 Conference and General Annual Meeting held in Lagos.
Oyesiku said that the institute was planning to come up with a workable policy for the development of transport system that would ensure safety of lives on the highways and enhance aviation industry development.
The Professor of Transport System Planning, Urban and Regional Planning said that the development of cargo terminals would create the opportunity for massive employment in the country.
“For the aviation industry, we expect that efforts will be made to maximise the potential available in many industries.
“Unfortunately, such potential have yet to be tapped and Nigeria is an import dependent nation rather than an export dependent nation.
“Therefore, a number of our airports that have been designated Cargo Airports have yet to function well.
“What we then clamour for as a professional institute is to make the overall development of the economy an export dependent particularly on agriculture and manufacturing,” Oyesiku said.
The don also lauded the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for its service to road users and appealed to the Federal Government to support it so that its work would be more effective in enforcing speed limit among motorists.
“The FRSC should collaborate with the relevant agencies in enforcing the laws and ensuring that only vehicles that are road worthy are allowed to ply the highways.
Also, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Dunoma Saleh, said the development of airports would enhance business efficiency and productivity for socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Sakleh, the guest speaker at the event said, “Airport facilitates economic growth at regional and national levels but also acts as magnets for a wide range of economic activities.
“Airport provides the necessary infrastructure for a wide range of economic activities and provides easy access to suppliers and customers.
“The air transport for passengers and freight constitutes an essential component of the modern global economy,” he said.
According to him, air travel provides accessibility to global economy and enables remote and island communities to participate fully in it.
Saleh added that the development would attract new investments, business and leisure visitors, retain existing companies, promote export and tourism as well as create more jobs.