INDICATIONS have emerged that Nigeria may soon jettison her 17-year-old transport policy for a new one, which will emphasise Private-Public Participation (PPP) in the provision of services.
A source in the transport sector industry said that the proposed policy which was sent to the Presidency for approval last week, intends to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable integrated transport system within the framework of progressive and competitive market economy.
The new transport policy, if approved would encourage and remove all barriers towards private sector participation in the development, provision, maintenance, operation and upgrading of transport infrastructure and services.
Under the new policy, states and local councils will be encouraged to develop and promote urban transport system and rural accessibility.
The new transport policy is also aimed at ensuring safety, security, reliability, quality of transport at local, national and international level.
According to the draft policy made available to The Guardian at the weekend, the objective for the sector include, among others:
• Promoting of economic development, through expansion of trade and transport competitiveness in Nigeria;
• promotion of maintenance culture and continuous upgrading of transport infrastructure and services;
• promoting the use of public transport over private transport; and
• to promote competition and efficiency and continuous reduction in cost of transport services in the country.
Even before the last transport policy of 1993, the country’s transportation system had been chaotic due to the imbalance between demand and supply in the sector.
According to the new policy, the imbalance in supply and demand for transport capacity overall, and in the development of the different modes of transport, has in fact increased since 1993.
Although, efforts were made since 1993 to improve different transport modes to cope with increasing demand for transport services, yet such demands continued to outstrip the supply.
“The Nigerian transport system is still in a very difficult situation that needs urgent remedies. Changes and improvement are obviously needed,” it stated.
According to the planned policy, the PPP objective in all transport modes was to accelerate investment in new transport infrastructure and ensure the upgrade of existing ones to satisfactory standards.
Besides, the PPP concept would ensure that all the investment projects provide value for money, an improvement in the availability, quality and efficiency of transport services in order to enhance economic growth, productivity, competitiveness, access to markets, among other benefits.
The new policy also emphasises respect for the right of employees, right of employment and encourages the direct and indirect participation of small and medium sized enterprises in PPP projects.
Under water transportation, government is expected to adopt a port management model that will attract private sector involvement and promote market principles.
It will also promote efficiency, productivity and private sector participation through port reform model, legal and regulatory framework and institutional reform.
On shipping, the government policy objective would be to consolidate on the achievement of the existing promotional and regulatory measures, and to encourage indigenous participation in the carriage of the country’s wet and dry cargoes as well as improving the bargaining power of the Nigerian ship owners.
With the new transport policy, government said it would create enabling environment for development and growth of inland dry ports just as dry ports would link trunk A roads.
Under rail transport, the policy emphasises on the rehabilitation of existing railway infrastructure and the expansion of the network to link all seaports, international airports, and major economic and industrial centres.
On roads construction and maintenance, the Federal Government may take over some of the roads under the jurisdiction of states and local councils to cause a revision of 17 per cent, 16 per cent and 67 per cent share of road construction between federal, states and local council in that order.
The Federal Government will consider, for the purpose of taking over additional roads using approved criteria, including roads in physically constrained (hilly, sandy e.t.c), development need of disadvantage areas, connection to major towns, connection between local council headquarters and any other criteria that might be considered appropriate.
On air transportation, the policy will allow government to create enabling environment for private provision or air transport services and ensures safety in line with global best practices.
To do this effectively, the policy stresses on the creation of enabling environment for dynamic growth, increase participation of the private sector development of Lagos as a hub for passengers and cargo transportation, eradication of corruption, improved air space management, among many others.
Source:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/
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