Don urges FG to undertake rail-led multimodal transport technique

A college don and transport and logistics professional, Dr Femi Ola Aiyegbajeje, has referred to as for a elementary shift in Nigeria’s transport infrastructure planning, urging the Federal Government to undertake a rail-led multimodal integration technique that connects seaports, railway corridors, roads, inland terminals, manufacturing centres and markets inside a coordinated logistics system.

Aiyegbajeje, a lecturer on the Department of Geography and Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, mentioned Nigeria might unlock better financial worth from its transport investments by transferring away from an infrastructure-first strategy in the direction of an built-in logistics service mannequin pushed by cargo demand, operational reliability and measurable efficiency outcomes.

In a presentation titled “Rail-Led Multimodal Integration: Unlocking Efficient Transport, Trade Facilitation and National Connectivity,” the Unilag don defined that railway infrastructure might ship its full financial potential solely when it functioned as a part of an end-to-end freight transportation chain.

“Rail creates national value when it works as part of an end-to-end logistics chain—not as an isolated asset,” he said.

He argued that integrating rail with ports, street networks, inland logistics hubs, agricultural manufacturing zones, industrial centres and digital info techniques was vital to enhancing freight motion, facilitating commerce and strengthening nationwide connectivity.

According to him, Nigeria’s financial actions are distributed throughout coastal gateways, inland manufacturing areas and main consumption markets, making coordinated transportation techniques important for environment friendly cargo evacuation and distribution.

He famous {that a} seaport might expertise operational bottlenecks when cargo evacuation turned sluggish or unpredictable, whereas railway infrastructure might underperform when terminal amenities, prepare schedules and buyer entry had been poorly coordinated.