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By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
The Chairman of the Global Transport Policy (GTP), Dr. Olusegun Musa, has called on the Federal Government to provide favourable tax incentives and policy guarantees for investors in the transport sector, saying such measures would help reduce uncertainty and attract the much-needed investments in critical infrastructure.
Musa made the call during the fourth edition of a press conference heralding the forthcoming Global Transport Policy Conference scheduled to hold on June 17, 2026, at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the conference, he identified several challenges confronting Nigeria’s transport industry and said the round table discussions would focus on finding practical solutions capable of transforming the sector into a more efficient and integrated system.
According to him, one of the major concerns is the persistent congestion at the nation’s seaports. Drawing from his experiences during a visit to China, Musa said Nigeria must adopt an integrated port system and embrace technology-driven operations to improve efficiency and facilitate trade.
He stressed the need for comprehensive automation across the port ecosystem, including customs services, cargo handlers, shipping lines and other stakeholders.
“Everybody must key into automation. We need to reduce physical interface in port operations and create an environment where stakeholders can carry out transactions seamlessly through digital platforms,” he said.
Musa lamented the lengthy cargo clearance processes at Nigerian ports, describing them as a major impediment to trade and economic growth. “How can cargo remain in the port for 14 days or even 30 days before clearance? These are issues that must be addressed. Once cargo arrives at the port, importers should be able to clear it without unnecessary delays,” he stated.
He added that there was no reason Nigeria could not achieve a 24-hour cargo clearance system if the right reforms and technological infrastructure were put in place.
The GTP chairman also highlighted the urgent need to revitalise the nation’s railway system through private sector participation. He noted that many rail facilities across the country are outdated and require substantial investment to meet modern transportation demands.
To encourage investors, Musa urged government to establish agreements that guarantee policy continuity regardless of changes in administration.
He observed that concerns over policy reversals and contract cancellations often discourage investors from committing long-term resources to infrastructure projects.
“It pains me that when another administration comes into office, some contracts are cancelled. Government must create confidence in investment agreements. Investors often ask, ‘What happens if there is a change in government?’ These concerns must be addressed
if we truly want to attract investment,” he said.
On road transportation, Musa called for better coordination of road construction projects and capacity building for stakeholders involved in infrastructure development. He stressed the importance of ensuring that roads are built to international standards to support economic activities and improve mobility.
Speaking at the events also, Prof. Oni Iyiola, Director Centre for Multi-modal Transport Studies, University of Lagos. said that the federal government spent billions of dollars daily on roads but this roads at the end of the day gets spoiled by trucks, while as certain percentage of those materials they carry each can be taken through rail transportation.
“we want to encourage a system here in Nigeria where we have full complimented integrated multi-model transportation. Each model has it own value, and if we don’t use it appropriately we just waste our time, where we need to use road, we use road, and when we need to use rail, we use rail.
“And I hope that this meeting will come up with a very robust strategy, worth streamlining various organisational structures whereby each organisation ministry will know where it owns work starts and where it ends,” he said.
