Transport Policy

Nigerian transporters deserve credit for the work they have done in transport services especially in air transport and in inter-state luxury bus services. The transport system lacks coherence, however, and several sectors, notably water transport and commuter services within our busy cities need planning and systernatisation.

The transport policy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance proposes the following aims and objectives:

i. To create an efficient, interlinked national transport network capable of moving people and good comfortably and safely throughout the country.

ii. To develop efficient and serviceable capabilities in water transport and rail transport.

iii. To review the institutions and regulations governing transport services

iv. To democratize and decentrolise the institutions responsible for road construction, road maintenance and transport generally.

Air Transport
APGA will initiate the following measures for the re-organization and development of air transport.

i. APGA will constitute the Nigeria Airport Authority into a compact professional agency charged with responsibilities for planning, the supervision of construction, the maintenance of facilities and inspection. It should raise enough funds from the fees it charges for it to operate without statutory allocations.

ii. Every Nigerian airport will be operated on commercial lines by a private limited liability company.

iii. APGA will commercialize the Nigerian Airways immediately and gradually position the undertaking for privatization.

iv. APGA will encourage Nigerian entrepreneurs presently operating in air transport to form a joint stock partnership that will enable them to improve their services and operate long-haul trans-continental services in competition with air carriers of the European Union and the United States of America.

v. To assist Nigerian air transport companies in acquiring aircraft. APGA will authorize the operation of an Aircraft Purchase Loan Fund on the same basis as the Shipping Fund which facilitated the purchase of ships by Nigerian shipping companies.

vi. APGA will ensure for the convenience of the public, that every geographical zone in the country has an international airport.

vii. For the safety of Nigerian air travelers, there shall be a strict reinforcement of the regulations for aircraft maintenance.

Sea & River Transport
i. APGA will constitute the Nigerian Ports Authority into a compact professional agency on the same lines as the Nigerian Airport Authority in 2(i) above.

ii. Similarly, every Nigerian Seaport or river port will be operated on commercial lines by a private limited liability company.

iii. To assist Nigerian shipping lines in acquiring ships, APGA will re-introduce the Ship Acquisition Fund and ensure that it operates without abuse.

iv. To expand river transport and make it safe, the dredging of major rivers will be continuous.

Railways
Started in 1893, railway services were the mainstream of transport in Nigeria up to the early 1950. But they were slow and did not extend sufficiently throughout the country. Gradually their dominant position was taken over by road and air transport.

i. APGA will continue the process of reconstruction, requirement, modernization and expansion of the railways especially for bulk haulage and for cheap long distance travel.

ii. In this regard, conversion to the standard gauge and the purchase of well-equipped modern coaches for the comfort of long-distance travelers will be a priority.

iii. New lines from Lagos to Calabar and from Sokoto to Maiduguri and Yola will be built.

iv. The Nigerian Railways will be fully commercialized then privatized and its operations decentralized for greater efficiency.

Road Transport
This is a fully privatized public services which should, with the improvement of roads, the training of transport personnel, and the operations of regulatory services, be a model of public self-reliance. APGA policies will address the areas of need.

i. APGA will create Highway Authorities on the analogy of the Ports Authority and the Airports Authority to provide planning, the supervision of construction and maintenance and inspectorate services for road transport. The Authority will operate in the three tiers of government with the state tier being primarily responsible for operations.

ii. It is quite clear that the state of the roads is one of the fundamental difficulties of road transport, and that until dualisation, asphalting, drainage, and sustained maintenance is achieved road transport will continue to be dangerous. APGA will ensure that these difficulties are removed.

iii. Highway Authorities will create institutes of tram1Jort for the training of personnel in transport services. APGA believes that this measure will lead to greater knowledge and discipline in the use of the road.

iv. APGA will continue the programme of financing assistance for mass transit. The programme will he extended to taxi services in the main urban areas where congestions are severe as a result of the increasing cost of new vehicles.

v. APGA will instruct its local government councils to build fully equipped (with waiting rooms. cafeterias and telephones) for inter-city and inter-state transport.

vi. Airports, seaports and railway stations will also have bus stations to ensure easy linkage between various transport systems.