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PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration was putting finishing to a new transport policy aimed at addressing some critical challenges in the sector. He said the proposed policy aimed to focus attention on all components of the transportation, including roads, air and rail in such a way that each would complement the other.
The President made the pronouncement yesterday while playing host to the National Executive members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), which paid him a courtesy visit at the Aso Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
The visit, according to the National President of RTEAN, High Chief Musa Shehu Isiwele, was to appreciate Jonathan’s policy towards addressing critical challenges facing the sector, such as the automotive policy that places a lot of emphasis in developing indigenous auto manufacturing, granting of loans to some deserving Nigerians to embark on auto business.
To solidify their relationship with the government the association decorated Jonathan with its highest honour the Great Grand Patron in appreciation of what he has done to the transport sub-sector of the economy. According to him, Jonathan is the only recipient of the honour so far since it was instituted.
The President said the Minister of Transport was working day and night to ensure that the administration desire to bequeath a viable and virile road transport sector was realized within a very short time. To ensure that the nation enjoyed a longer life span the administration decided to revive the rail transportation system to provide a viable alternative to the road, especially in the haulage of heavy goods.
Jonathan lauded the self effort of RTEAN aimed at addressing some critical challenges facing the sector, the President re-iterated the determination of the administration towards partnering with them to achieve their objectives.
The areas that the President highlighted for commendation were the proposed 1000 mass housing for members of the association, the 4000 mass transit vehicles as well as the driving academy being initiated by the association.
According to the President, the visit by the RTEAN was the first in 2014, an indication that this body means well for the country. Besides, he described the centenary card presented to him as the first and for “such an association to have the initiative to design this card for the President is unique, it shows the vision the executive of this association has and I pray you will succeed.”
He said the greatness of Nigeria lies is its diversity, which must be exploited to enable Nigerians attain their lofty ideals towards this end, he directed the SGF to ensure that the RTEAN must be involved in all the programmes that will lead to the celebration of centenary anniversary
He described the role of the RTEAN to the growth and development of the economy as critical, saying. “Attempting to be your enemy is suicidal because you can prevent people from going to vote so working with you is more rewarding.”
The President predicted that this year would be a better year than 2013.
He stated: “The challenges would have be there because without challenges there will be no need for leaders, so we should not be intimated by challenges where through human creation or natural ones the important thing is how those challenges were dealt to the best interest of the majority of outer country men and women.
He commended the association for their 4000 mass transit vehicles being proposed by the association, saying the federal government would continue to partner with the RTEAN to deliver their objectives. He said their vision of developing modern parks area achieved.
The President said the issues of modern road literacy must be encouraged because he believed that a lot of accident could be avoided if the drivers are properly educated especially commercial drivers. He said he would ensure that government drivers are properly educated on how they go about their normal jobs. So also was the effort of the association to supply mass housing scheme for their members, which he said would not only the cost of rent but would also create jobs.
The association stands the best place to commend positively on Nigerian. Government designed policies on transportation, assuring that his administration would not make Nigerians suffer and pay higher for services. He said if such policies crop up, he would abort it half way because he does not believe government should suffer the people unnecessarily.
Present at the occasion were Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Ministers of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar; FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Sada, Minister of. State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda among other government officials.
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