12yrs after, FG to establish national transport databank

Twelve years after approval by the National Council on Transportation, the federal government says it is in the process of establishing a smart National Transport Database (NTD).

The revelation was made by the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali in Abuja on Tuesday at a one day stakeholders’ engagement forum with the theme, “The Strategic Importance of a Smart National Transport Databank in Socio-Economic Development of Nigeria.”

According to him, “The decision for the establishment of a National Transport Databank was approved by the National Council on Transportation at its meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State in 2012. It was on the basis of this that the Institute was mandated by the Council to liaise with relevant stakeholders to establish the National Transport Databank to be housed in NITT and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

“I have made this project a top priority and it is my desire to give my maximum support to its success. This is because data management on the international scene is becoming increasingly complex in view of globalisation and the emergence of new technology defined by the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the decision making process.

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“Thus, reviewing the existing transport data collection and management system in the country, as well as developing an institutional framework for regular collection and analysis of transport data is essential to national development,” The minister said.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of the National Institute for Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Bayero Salih Farah said the institute has taken a series of measures to bring a functional data bank in the country, which is aimed at securing and enhancing the efficient transport sector.

He added, “Establishing a data bank is capital intensive for the public sector to do alone, which is why we are calling for collaboration with the private sector as the institute looks for investors to drive the project, which will bring  Return on Investments (RoI).