From Idu Jude Kano
The Minister of Transportation Said Alkali has commended the Kano State, Governor, Abba Yusuf for the development of a Transport Policy Document to transform the Transportation Sector of the Center of Commerce to attain heights of maximum productivity and Economic Development.
The Minister made commendations Thursday at Kano State while declaring open Transport Policy Dialogue ongoing in the state.
He said the leadership of Kano State took to heart the resolutions of the recently concluded 18th National Council on Transportation and convened the laudable event.
Senator Alkali said the fundamental goal of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu is to develop an adequate, safe, secure, smart, environmentally sound, efficient, affordable, sustainable, preferred and integrated transport system is gradually being actualized.
He said, “States such as Lagos and Kano have become trailblazers as they have recognised the need to provide a blueprint that will serve as a set of principles and ethos to guide their overall decision-making for an integrated and functional transport system”.
The Transportation Minister called on other States in Nigeria to also kick start the development of their own Transport Policy to stimulate a well-developed Transportation Sector for Nigeria.
He reiterates that the importance of a good and dynamic transport policy lies in its ability to: Promote Economic Growth, Enhance Social Equity, Reduce Environmental Degradation, Improve Safety and Security, Foster Innovation and Technology, and Enhance Quality of Life, among others.
The Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the government has reconstructed numerous roads overhead and underpass bridges thereby reducing the traffic congestion in the cosmopolitan city.
Governor Yusuf believed that reforming the Transportation Sector has become imperative given the Kano transport challenges which are akin to Lagos and other emerging Mega cities in the country.
The Governor Represented by his Deputy Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo said, that Kano being a commercial hub of Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa requires a comprehensive and integrated approach for the Transportation Sector to meet the modern-day Transportation reality.
He said, “Kano state Government is committed to Developing a more balanced and sustainable transport system as encapsulated in its transport vision statement.”
The Commissioner for Transportation Muhammad Ibrahim Diggol emphasized that the Kano Transport dialogue marks a significant step towards shaping the future of Transportation in the state to achieve a multi-modal system in tune with the global best practices.
Diggol said, that as cities become the engines of economic growth due to urbanization, they are becoming major contributors to Green House Gas Emissions, congestion and deteriorating air quality.
“This is adversely impacting on the health of the people and constraining economic growth.”
He noted that the provision of appropriate transport infrastructures and services determines the safe morbidity of all people and goods and is a fundamental factor in sustainable future livelihoods.