In line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda to boost Nigeria’s economy, the Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA) organised its 4th edition workshop to address critical issues impeding the effectiveness of air, land and marine transportation in Nigeria.
The event, themed “Harnessing the Aviation, Railway, Marine and Blue Economy Sectors for Sustainable Transportation in Nigeria,” highlighted the crucial role of transportation in economic growth.
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali represented by his special assistant on technical matters, Dr. Shuaibu Danwanka, reiterated that the workshop’s theme responds to both national and global realities, recognising transportation as a key enabler of economic growth.
“I hope that this event will address the critical issues that hinder the effectiveness of land, air and marine transportation in Nigeria,” Alkali said.
According to him, the event is expected to present innovative ways of communicating ideas, techniques, and milestones in the transport sector, showcasing the media’s pivotal role in shaping public perception and highlighting the sector’s role as a dominant pillar of Nigeria’s sustainable economic growth.
Alkali also encouraged the media to focus on balanced reporting that highlights the essential services carried out by the transportation sector to support the economy and promote the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Tinubu.
“You must remain committed, diligent, and professional in discharging your duty of public information dissemination, ensuring that Nigerians understand and appreciate the transformative agenda of the current administration, which prioritises transportation as a central governance strategy,” he said.
He assured ATACA of the ministry’s support in achieving successful road and rail modernisation projects across the country.
In his keynote presentation, economist Dr. Emeka Okengwu emphasised that transportation should be both affordable and accessible to citizens to prevent commodity loss. He explained how Nigeria could harness ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) to generate electricity through the sea, using its 700-800 kilometres of coastline to produce over 200,000 megawatts of electricity.
Okengwu urged stakeholders to develop a comprehensive transportation system that addresses Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges and fosters growth. He also called on journalists to play an advisory role to the government by reporting transportation-related issues and raising awareness of potential solutions.
Similarly, president of the Nigeria-Bangladesh Business Technology Forum and the Ajaokuta Chamber of Commerce, Arch. Bob Achanya stressed the importance of harnessing the full potential of Nigeria’s transportation system to achieve sustainable development and economic diversification.
“The integration of a multimodal transportation system within Nigeria’s emerging blue economy presents a unique opportunity for sustainable economic growth. By leveraging the strengths of our aviation, road, railway, marine and blue economy sectors, we can create a resilient and efficient transportation network that drives national relevance and prosperity,” Achanya said.
He added that Nigeria must embrace innovation, foster collaboration and implement strategic initiatives to transform its transportation landscape.
ATACA chairman, Prince Leonard Oru emphasised the importance of securing and properly funding the land transportation and railway subsectors to harness Nigeria’s aviation, railway, marine and blue economy sectors for sustainable transportation.
“For our transportation system—whether air, land, or sea—to thrive, security and safety are key. We implore security agencies, regulators, and enforcers of relevant laws to step up their efforts,” Oru stated.
He also highlighted the need for better communication, enlightenment, and feedback mechanisms between the government and citizens. Oru urged that the budgets of ministries and agencies in the transport sector should cover all facets of the media, including training for press units’ staff and external media partners. He also called for increased involvement of ATACA members in inspections and regular media engagements.
“It is my firm belief that for us to achieve the expected changes in governance perception, ministries and agencies must ensure that their media budgets cater to all aspects of media involvement, including training and collaboration with the press,” Oru said.
He encouraged his colleagues to report accurately and objectively, ensuring that their reportage is solution-based. “We cannot have a progressive nation when we inflame the polity with biased or negative reporting,” Oru added.
The 4th edition of ATACA’s workshop underscored the critical need for a sustainable, secure, and well-funded transportation system to support Nigeria’s economic growth. The call for innovation, collaboration and balanced media reporting aligns with the broader goals of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, highlighting the transportation sector’s pivotal role in fostering sustainable development across the country.
