Nigeria Poised To Lead Africa In Intelligent Transport Systems – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that the federal government, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to making Nigeria a global leader in intelligent transport innovation.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) with the theme “Intelligent Transport System” yesterday in Abuja, Shettima, who was represented by Muhammad Ahmed, Senior Special Assistant on Emergency Management, outlined an ambitious roadmap to address Nigeria’s transportation challenges while aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The event, organised by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA), brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to deliberate on adopting intelligent transport solutions.

Shettima highlighted the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s road infrastructure. Out of the country’s 195,000 kilometres of roads, only 31 percent are asphalted, equating to less than one kilometre of road per inhabitant.

“With 14 million vehicles on the roads, this equates to an average of 260 vehicles per kilometre of asphalted road, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions to manage Nigeria’s growing transportation demands.”

He emphasised Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, connected to three of the nine designated Trans-African Highway routes, placing the nation at the forefront of flagship projects such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Trans-African Highway Network, both integral to the AU’s Agenda 2063.

“With Nigeria projected to become the third most populous country by 2050, the adoption of intelligent and autonomous transportation systems is no longer optional but essential,” he said.

Shettima explained that these systems offer comprehensive solutions to challenges such as road traffic accidents, overloaded trucks, and enforcement inefficiencies.

“Citing recent road traffic incidents, including the tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, and another in Enugu State over the weekend, he highlighted the devastating human and economic costs of these challenges,” he said.

He further elaborated on the transformative potential of ITS, which leverages real-time data to reduce traffic congestion, enhance road safety with automated compliance systems, and track driver violations through unified databases.

The federal government unveiled several key initiatives to modernise Nigeria’s transportation sector:

“Pilot Programmes: Intelligent transport system pilots will be launched in Lagos, Kano, and Bauchi to demonstrate their effectiveness and secure buy-in for nationwide adoption.

“Unified National Database: A centralised vehicle and driver database will be established to enhance compliance and enforcement, streamlining regulatory processes.

“Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Resources will be mobilised through collaboration with private sector stakeholders to drive innovation and ensure sustainability.

Shettima emphasised that the success of these initiatives depends on collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, private sector leaders, international partners, and civil society.

“The time for planning has passed. We are in the decade of action,” he declared. “Together, we must remain unified in purpose to achieve these transformative goals.”

For his part, Prince (Dr) Segun Obayendo, president and chairman of the governing council of CIoTA, highlighted the importance of leveraging technology and innovative solutions to address Nigeria’s evolving transport challenges.

He stated, “The theme of this engagement, Intelligent Transport System, could not have come at a more opportune moment.

“As global trends increasingly lean towards sustainable, efficient, and data-driven transport systems, it is imperative that Nigeria aligns itself with these advancements to ensure our transport infrastructure is not only competitive but also adaptive to the needs of our citizens and businesses.”