The Minister Of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo has said that the federal government is set to generate 21 million full-time jobs in the transport sector and lift 35 Million people out of poverty by 2025.
Sambo, revealed this in a speech delivered at the ongoing 2022 Ministerial Retreat at Ibom Icon Hotel, Akwa-Ibom State where he emphasised that the transport sector is setting the stage for achieving the government’s goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
The Transport Minister noted that infrastructural gaps in the sector necessitated the development of the National Development Plans; Medium-Term Development Plans 2021-2025 and a Long-Term Plan called the Nigeria Agenda 2050.
“This is to invest massively in infrastructure, ensure macroeconomic stability, enhance the investment environment, improve living conditions and implement climate change mitigation. This will generate 21 million full-time jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025, thus setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years,” he said.
Meanwhile, he explained that the Policy thrust to drive the vision included; improving safety and transportation security, collaboration and synergy amongst transportation stakeholders, professionalism and human capacity building, strengthening institutional governance and regulation and multi-modal infrastructural development.
He added that five high-level strategic goals were selected to achieve these policy thrusts: Safe and Secure Transportation, Drive Economic Development, Facilitate Connectivity (Intermodal and Multimodal), Develop Local Capacity (Professionalism) and Ensure Sustainability.
“I am well aware that you are all conversant with these high-level goals, as they have become a blueprint for tracking performance towards the delivery of our mandates, addressing the bottlenecks militating against the growth of the transportation sector and stimulating domestic growth. The key Policy Initiatives and Reform Programmes for the Sector are; Implementation of the 25 year Railway Modernization Programme, the Ports Master Plan and Inland Waterways Transportation Development.”
“Others are; The Nigerian Transportation Master-plan (NTM), Tariffs and costs, Creation of Private Sector led National fleet and Manpower capacity development.” he said.
Sambo acknowledged that efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration have been concentrated on the expansion and modernization of the Nation’s Transportation System which has resulted in numerous achievements in the Rail, Maritime and Road Sub-sectors.
He reiterated that the provision of transportation infrastructure is and will always be work in progress for any nation that desires rapid development.
“With the recent presentations on the investment opportunities that exist in the Transportation Sector at various fora, I am optimistic that there will be an influx of international private investors’ patronage in the Sector soon. I therefore, implore us all to leverage this Retreat to galvanize the Transportation Sector to become more competitive, efficient and productive,” he added.
He also commended the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye; the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Magdalene Ajani; and all members of staff of the Ministry for their support and diligence.
