By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the private sector have expressed interest in participating in the forthcoming Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s (TCAN) national summit on transportation.
Among the organizations that have confirmed their participation include, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Government (LASG).
The summit will be held at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday 17th October 2024. Its theme is, “Intermodal Transport: Prospects and Challenges.”
The Secretariat of TCAN disclosed on Wednesday, that other firms which are supporting the programme are the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Lagos Computerized Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS), Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Worldwide Marine Services, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Fidelity Bank Plc, among others.
A statement issued by TCAN Chairman, Mr Yinka Aderibigbe, and the Summit Organising Committee Chairman, Mr Rasheed Bisiriyu, said that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will be the Chairman of the event.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali will declare the event open, while former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address on the occasion.
“The focus on intermodal transportation in the maiden edition of the annual summit is deliberate,” the authority of TCAN explained, adding: “It is aimed at bringing together relevant stakeholders across all subsectors of the transport industry to see the need to form and work in synergy with one another, rather than working in silos and at cross-purposes, which might pose greater challenge to achieving the dream of giving alternative travel modes to the Nigerian public.”
The Association pointed out that such arrangement will pave the way for greater efficiency through lower costs, operational flexibility and reduced carbon emission in a world committed to cleaner environmental impact that will ultimately benefit all.
In the statement TCAN highlighted that a team of speakers has been carefully selected to discuss on the issue under focus.
“A panel of discussants featuring some relevant members of the intelligentsia, heads of prominent agencies/organisations will speak to the sub-themes of the summit around railway, road, inland waterways and aviation sub-sectors as well as safety of operations in the nation’s transportation industry,” the transportation correspondents stated.
A communique will be issued at the end of summit.
The journal of Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria will be launched on the occasion.
