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By Fidelis Ugbomeh
Special Adviser to Vice-President on Transportation, Logistics and Innovation, Prince Segun Obayendo has called on the National Assembly to enact an Act establishing a central co-ordinating Agency to harmonise transport development plan at all levels
According to him, enactment of the act would help to stem the present approach of developing railways, waterways, airports and roads in isolation by governments.
Obayendo who made these remarks at the 2026 transport industry summit recently organised by transportion correspondents association of Nigeria, with theme “Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportion Logistics”, said the agency when established would be responsible for co-ordinating transportation development plan.
He explained that for instance “If Nigeria inland waterways authority plans to develop it’s waterfront at Minna in Niger state, the agency would ensure that and NIWA, Nigerian railway corporation and the state are carried along to ensure integration of rail, road and water modes in the plan”.
According to him this approach would accelerate transformation of Nigeria’s transportation and logistics system through greater integration of road, rail, waterways, and other modes of transport, with technology and professional regulation deployed to reduce the cost of moving people and goods.
Obayendo noted that Nigeria could not unlock its economic potential without addressing the structural weaknesses in its transport and logistics system, arguing that delays, fragmented modes of transportation, multiple checkpoints, insecurity, poor coordination and informality in the road transport sector were adding significantly to the cost of doing business.
He said Nigeria should learn from countries such as Singapore, Germany and China, where transportation infrastructure has been deliberately integrated into broader economic development strategies.
According to him, Singapore provides an example of how intelligent transport systems, automation and integrated ticketing can make movement across different modes of transport more seamless.
He pointed specifically to Singapore’s public transport system, where fares are calculated across connected bus and rail journeys rather than requiring passengers to pay a separate boarding charge every time they change modes.
“Singapore’s Land Transport Authority and Public Transport Council confirm that the country’s distance-based fare system covers bus and MRT/LRT journeys, with passengers able to make transfers without additional boarding charges when the applicable transfer rules are met”, Obayendo declared.
He explained that Nigeria needed to move towards a similar level of integration, stressing that the objective should not merely be to construct individual transport projects but to create a system in which the different modes complement one another.
Obayendo referred to the Hamburg Port Authority’s smartPORT programme, as an example of the type of integrated system he wants Nigeria to build. The port combines road, rail and sea transport data, while its digital systems monitor traffic flows, infrastructure and cargo movements.
“Its Port Monitor system brings together information including vessel positions, berths, water levels and other operational data, while other projects use sensors, connected vehicles and automation to improve traffic flow.
“Such systems demonstrated that efficient transportation was not simply about building roads, bridges or terminals, but about connecting infrastructure, data, operators and users
“Nigeria needed to develop systems that could track cargo and monitor the movement of goods from one point to another, thereby reducing delays and improving transparency”, the technical adviser said.
He also drew attention to China, describing the country as an economic powerhouse whose development had been closely linked to massive investment in transport infrastructure.
The technical adviser argued that China’s ability to produce goods on a large scale would have limited economic value without an equally strong capacity to move those goods to domestic and international markets.
According to him, China’s comparative advantage was not based solely on natural resources or cheap labour, but was reinforced by deliberate investments in infrastructure, logistics and connectivity.
He said Nigeria should similarly examine its strategic position in Africa and ask why the country’s potential as a major regional trading hub had not translated into the volume and efficiency of trade flows that should be expected.
Obayendo said the economic consequences of an inefficient transport system were ultimately borne by consumers and businesses.
He recalled the severe gridlock that previously affected the Apapa port corridor, saying improvements in the movement of containers had demonstrated the economic importance of tackling transport bottlenecks.
He also raised concerns about the proliferation of checkpoints and other charges along freight corridors, saying such costs accumulate and ultimately increase freight rates.
