Esther Oritse
Lagos — Nigeria has taken a major step forward in its transport development with the Federal Government’s approval of the long-awaited National Land Transport Policy. Industry experts describe the move as a milestone that could transform mobility, professionalise the sector, and significantly strengthen economic performance across the country.
The development, announced by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), brings an end to decades of stalled drafts and fragmented efforts that had slowed meaningful transport reform. CIOTA’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chizoba Anyika, told journalists during a virtual briefing that the National Executive Council (NEC) approved the policy on July 31, 2025.
In a statement, the Institute hailed the approval as a “bright torch of hope,” noting that it stemmed from resolutions adopted at CIOTA’s 7th National Conference in Abuja. Anyika added that years of advocacy, technical input, and collaboration among transport professionals and development partners had finally produced a coherent national framework.
Speaking with visible delight, she declared: “Let the media tell it to the world from the mountain top that Nigeria now has a Transportation Policy.” She added that her mandate to convey the announcement came directly from the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, during the conference.
The 7th CIOTA Conference, which brought together over 450 delegates at the NICON Luxury Hotel, featured inputs from former and serving leaders of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police, Vehicle Inspection Offices, military and paramilitary agencies, traditional rulers, and transport industry professionals.
Conversations reinforced the urgent need for an integrated, multimodal, and globally aligned transport management system.
CIOTA President, Dr. Segun Obayendo, applauded the media for its consistent coverage of CIOTA’s reform efforts, stressing that professionalisation remains the foundation for building a modern, efficient, and economically viable transport sector. According to him, a fully professionalised ecosystem would significantly expand employment opportunities and enhance revenue generation.
Obayendo also highlighted CIOTA’s growing partnership with ALGON, the umbrella body for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils. Through this collaboration, each council is expected to appoint a Supervisory
Councillor for Transport, a move aimed at decentralising transport governance and ensuring that even remote communities benefit from a structured, standardised system.
He maintained that deepening professionalism across all tiers of the sector would make the administration’s ₦1 trillion economic target far more achievable.
