The Federal Government on Friday identified Nigeria’s transportation sector as a major culprit of environmental pollution owing to “over dependence on fossil fuel and non-availability of alternative energy.”
However, the government hinted of its plans to adopt a multifaceted approach to accelerate the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation solutions in the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, said this on Friday in Abeokuta while delivering his speech at the opening of the Executive session of the 18th National Council on Transportation Conference.
He noted that the meeting was conveyed to consider issues of significant importance to the transportation sector with a view to aligning the sector with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu.
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Alkali explained that there was a need to modernize the country’s transportation systems by pioneering the frontier of green manufacturing and industrialization with a focus on natural gas as a transition fuel alongside other renewable energy sources.
“It is a known fact that the transportation sector is a major culprit of environmental pollution because of its over dependence on fossil fuel and non-availability of alternative energy that has exerted pressure on demand for energy and raised broader environmental and socio-economic issues such as environmental pollution; fuel price volatility; economic sabotage among others,” the minister said.
Alkali noted that prioritising innovative technologies in the transportation sector would mitigate energy challenges.
“Another transportation solution is engendering innovative and transformative initiatives for the development of new renewable energy sources and smart city concepts.
“Consciously prioritising budgetary appropriation to tackle energy challenges and creating incentives to attract private sector investment in de-carbonization and other alternative technology,” he said.
Alkali explained that in recent years, the Federal government had shown its commitment to implement policies and strategies to develop a safe, secure, affordable, and sustainable transport system in the country.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation had carried out notable technological advancement that would foster an environmentally and economically friendly transportation solution in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that the theme of the conference indicated that the sector was fully in line with current challenges, realities, and limitations and ready to proffer sustainable solutions.
Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said that the transportation sector played a pivotal role in the sustainable growth and development of the nation and the state’s economy.
