COAS vows to provide tight security for transport infrastructure nationwide

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruq Yahaya, has promised that the Nigerian Army under his watch will improve security for transport infrastructure across the country.

The COAS said the March 28 terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service and some bandit attacks on several roads have thrown up a new security challenge for the nation’s transport infrastructure.

He promised that the Nigerian Army under his leadership would work with relevant agencies to protect transport facilities and secure Nigerians in their journeys in any part of the country.

Yahaya spoke at the National Transport Summit of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) with the theme: Transport Safety and Security Administration in Nigeria, Wednesday day in Abuja.

Represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Maj.-Gen. E. Akerejola, the army boss said: “I am aware that the summit is aimed at examining the challenges facing the Transportation sector in all ramifications, especially as regards safety and security.

“Interrogating the administration and management of safety and security in the Transportation sector in Nigeria and recommending ways forward in the use of technology, innovations, and policy for the improvement of transportation safety and security in our nation would no doubt create a better platform for other sectors of the economy to thrive and will boost economic growth and development in Nigeria.

“Transportation is key to human existence as man naturally explores his environment and satisfies his curiosity. Therefore, transportation constitutes a significant factor in the sustainable development of any country, society, or nation.

“It permeates many economic sectors, facilitates international trade, supports food security, delivers energy, and enables industrial and infrastructural development.

“It generates employment and helps create prosperity. It is on this basis that I consider this summit as timely to address the series of challenges facing the transportation system in our country.”

“Over the years, the Transportation sector has witnessed a series of issues and challenges, ranging from poor infrastructure, poor regulations, limited specialised professional training institutions, lack of effective and efficient transport policies, intra-industry squabbles among transport professionals, to unethical behaviours, poor working condition, amongst others”, he added.

“The recent attacks by non-state actors and other criminal elements have brought a new dimension to transportation challenges in our country. The effects of all these issues and challenges are better imagined.

“I wish to reassure the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria of the support and collaboration of the Nigerian Army whenever the need arises, most especially in the areas of providing adequate security for our teeming population and, of course, to the various critical national infrastructure.

“The Nigerian Army shall continue to carry out our duties diligently and work in synergy with other relevant security agencies to ensure a safer environment for the Transportation sector and the nation as a whole.”

Yahaya also advised the institute to look beyond policy formulation towards policy implementation and review existing ones to meet the dynamism of the sector.

CIOTA President Bashir Jamoh said the security of all the modes of transportation would boost the economy.

Jamoh, who was represented by Prof. Samuel Odewumi, said: “This summit is on safety. All the modes of transportation are under threat. Even for air travel, though regulated by an international agency, safety has always been the first line of consideration in everything.

“But the railway that we thought was the safest and easiest has come under threat. We don’t need to remind ourselves what the situation is now with the rail.

“Water transport is the same thing. The road is not in any way better. It carries about 90 per cent of our mobility, but it is heavily challenged. So, CIOTA feels safety should be the focus. Transport is at the neck of mobility and the economy. So, we must do all we can to secure it.”

On the safety of the road sub-sector, the Acting Corps Marshall of Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Dauda Biu, who was represented by the Deputy Corps Commandant and Dean of Post-Graduate School at the FRSC Academy in Enugu, Sikiru Balogun, said safety on the highway has been affected.

His words: “We know that safety on the highway has been seriously affected. Research shows that most assassinations take place while vehicles are in transit and there are push factors related to this.”