Stakeholders crave for complementary transport system to stimulate growth

By Fidelis Ugbomeh

Stakeholders in transportation sector have called for stronger integration of rail, road water and air transport, saying an efficient multimodal system is critical to reducing business costs, improve movement of goods and drive economic growth.

Speaking at 2026 transport industry summit organised by transport correspondents association of Nigeria, managing director of Nigerian railway corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said transportation should be treated as a major driver of productivity, trade, industrial development, employment and national competitiveness.

Represented at the event, he said Nigeria needed a transportation system in which rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation complement one another rather than operate in isolation.

He said rail has a particularly important role to play because of its capacity to move large volumes of passengers and bulk freight over long distances, thereby reducing pressure on highways and lowering logistics costs.

According to him, the corporation is focusing not only on passenger services but also on expanding freight operations and improving connectivity between rail lines, seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.

“The future of Nigeria’s transportation sector must also be driven by stronger partnerships. Government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure and investment required,” he said.

Opeifa called for greater private-sector participation in rolling stock, freight terminals, logistics hubs and related infrastructure, alongside a regulatory environment that promotes efficiency and innovation.

He pointed out the need to protect railway infrastructure from vandalism and encroachment, describing railway tracks, bridges, signalling systems and other assets as national investments requiring collective protection by government, security agencies, host communities and passengers.

Managing director of National inland waterways authority, represented by Lagos Area Manager, said Nigeria’s extensive network of rivers, creeks, lagoons and inland waterways presented significant opportunities for passenger and cargo movement.

According to him, waterways could provide an efficient alternative for bulk and heavy cargo, reduce pressure on roads and improve connectivity when properly integrated with road, rail and port infrastructure.

He stressed that safety must remain central to the expansion of inland water transportation, urging operators to comply with regulatory requirements, vessel documentation, safety equipment and navigation standards.

The authority also called for increased private investment in terminals, jetties, passenger transportation, cargo movement, vessel development, logistics services and technology.”

It also advocated for digital tracking, electronic documentation, vessel monitoring, traffic management, route planning and data-driven decision-making to make logistics safer and more predictable.

The authority argued that an efficient logistics system should allow businesses to know where their goods are, when they will arrive and the cost of moving them.

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on blue economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said Lagos could no longer rely solely on its roads to meet the transportation needs of its growing population and economy.

He disclosed that the state was investing in water transportation through initiatives including the Omi Eko Project, which seeks to introduce modern and environmentally sustainable ferries, upgrade terminals and improve connectivity between waterfront communities and major economic centres.

Emmanuel posited that the state was also working to integrate informal boat operators into a modernised water transportation system through improved safety standards, training and participation opportunities.

According to him, improved waterways could generate opportunities beyond transportation, including waterfront tourism, fisheries, maritime logistics, private investment and employment.

“Water transportation should not be measured solely by the revenue it generates, but by the economic opportunities it enables,” he said.

The special adviser stressed need for improved safety, technology, institutional coordination and private-sector participation, particularly as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The waterfront boat owners and transporters association of Nigeria, also urged greater investment in Nigeria’s inland waterways, describing water transport as a potential growth driver rather than a fallback mode of transportation.

National Public Relations Officer, of the association, Chief Raymond Gold, said members transport commuters, traders and goods across creeks, lagoons and inland waterways, particularly in areas where road transportation was inefficient or inaccessible.

He called for sustained investment in jetty infrastructure, safety standards and training of boat operators, stressing that efficient water transport could reduce congestion on roads and bridges while connecting riverine communities to the wider economy.

“Economic growth through logistics will only be truly unlocked when all four modes of transport are seen as partners rather than parallel silos,” Gold said.