Institute Wants Kaduna Govt To Join Transport Data Bank Project

Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, has appealed to the Kaduna State government to join its transport data bank project, which will help monitor real-time traffic conditions.

NITT said it offered to support the state government with real-time transport data to improve traffic monitoring and management across the state.

The director, Transport School, NITT, Dr Remi Adewumi, made the call on Monday when Master’s in Transport and Logistics (MTL) students of the institute visited the state Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure on an academic field study.

Adewumi, who represented the director-general/chief executive of NITT, Dr Bayero Salih Farah, said the institute was ready to make its expertise and innovations available to Kaduna, particularly through its transport data bank.

“We really want Kaduna State to be part of our data bank project, which will help monitor real-time traffic situations,” he said.

He said the field visit aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical experience, adding that the students would assess transport planning, urban roads, light rail expansion, traffic management, and other infrastructure systems in the state.

Adewumi described NITT as a multimodal transport research, career and certification centre, saying observations from the exercise would enable the institute to make informed recommendations to the state government.

He also encouraged Kaduna to draw lessons from the experiences of states such as Lagos and Rivers as it develops an integrated transport system.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ashiru Abdul Na Abdul, who represented the Commissioner, said Kaduna was setting the pace in transport innovation in the northern region.

Abdul said the state was pursuing a multimodal transport plan to integrate its various transportation systems, including roads, rail, and bus services.

“We have a plan for a multimodal transport system to integrate all our transportation systems,” he said, adding that the proposed construction of a new airport would also support accessibility within the integrated transport network.

Abdul listed ongoing and planned transport infrastructure in the state, including bus stops, terminals, motor and trailer parks, light rail and Bus Rapid Transit, as well as a subsidised transport scheme powered by 100 CNG-hybrid buses.