The Federal Government, yesterday, said that it had recognised the need to achieve a greener transportation system to promote environmental friendliness across the country.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Mrs Gbemisola Saraki made this known during a maiden edition of the National Transportation Technology Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
The theme of the programme is: “Multimodality and Accessibility: Achieving a Greener Transport System in Nigeria.”
Green Transportation is defined as any means of transportation that doesn’t negatively impact the environment.
Saraki, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdelene Ajani, explained that the ministry was in the process of reviewing a policy on Non-Motorised Transportation (NMT).
According to her, this is being done in conjunction with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to achieve a greener transportation in the country.
She said achieving a greener transportation system reflected Nigerians thirst for a well-structured sustainable, seamless and environmentally friendly transport system.
Saraki added that this innovation would provide the modalities on delivering environmentally friendly transportation that would stimulate investment/ innovation in transportations technology.
The minister said the Road Transport Transformation Programme (RTTP) of the Road Sub-Sector had strongly advocated the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases.
She said there were also moves to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass buses and also encourage commercial operators to convert their vehicles to CNG.
Saraki said: “The ministry has commenced the delineation of the sea approaches to the ports as Slow Steaming Areas for ships in compliance with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
“The ministry, through Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has constituted an Energy Management Team to implement processes for the reduction and optimisation of energy utilisation at the ports.
“Also, the ministry through NIMASA constituted a National Technical Committee (NTC) on the reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) Emission in the Maritime industry in Nigeria; among others.”
Saraki said the ministry would not rest on its oars but would increase efforts in addressing infrastructure constraints and promote Information Communication Technology in all mode of transportation, particularly in the road sub-sector.
She said this environmental sustainably would improve safety, convenience, travel time and cost of transportation within Africa with corresponding reduction in carbon/particulate emissions and reduction in loss of lives.
The minister said the multimodal transport and transit systems could provide an array of options for passenger and freight transport and successfully connect citizens and countries.
Delivering his address, Lagos State Governor, BabajideSanwo-Olu,noted that the government had leveraged on technology to lay over 6,000kilometers of Metro Network Connection Fibre within the state to improve intermodal transportation.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government,Mrs FolasadeJaji, noted said the move was a clear testament of the government’s resolve to make Lagos a 24-hour driven smart city.
The governor explained that the fibre optics laying would fast track higher bandwidth which would result to faster Internet speed, with stronger security because it keeps users data secure.
He said, “The project also allows smart technology access into the already existing transport infrastructure surveillance of the state. For a city like ours, that is a big boost to the transport sector.”
On her part, the outgoing Chairperson, Nigerian Transportation Commissioner Forum, Mrs RahmatuMuhammed, noted the forum had analysed various issues affecting the growth of the transportation industry.
Muhammed added that the solution to those issues was identified which was to be embedded in Technology.
She said: “Since then, all efforts have been channelled towards introducing a National Transportation Technology and Exhibition Conference aimed at bringing all key stakeholders in the transportation industry under one umbrella.
“This is to explore emerging trends in the global transportation space and evaluate feasible ways to implement and domesticate these trends in our rather stagnant or dwindling sector for state and national economic growth and development.”
Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr BoboyeOyeyemi, said the Intermodal transportation system in the country was a way forward for better and efficient transport operations.
Oyeyemi said Lagos was the best example of the Intermodal transportation in the country.
He added that if the inter connectivity could be perfected; it would solve the traffic problems in the state and other parts of the country.
“Lagos has 40per cent of the Nigerian population and if Lagos can achieve Intermodal transportation, then half of the interconnectivity of all means of transportation in other states will be resolved,”Oyeyemi said.
He also called for National Transport Policy to enable transportation in the country to be sustained.