By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Federal Government has launched the Smart National Transport Databank (S-NTDB), a major digital infrastructure project designed to integrate transport data across all modes and strengthen national planning, safety, and logistics management.
Persecondnews correspondent at the event reports that the initiative was unveiled in Abuja on Monday, during a sign-on ceremony between the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) and Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Limited under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
“This project will be implemented through a public-private partnership arrangement using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer model with Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Limited serving as the private sector partner,” he said.
He explained that the databank will serve as a comprehensive digital transport intelligence platform, collecting, processing, analysing, and disseminating mobility data across the country to support planning, investment decisions, traffic management, and safety enhancement.
“This investment will provide the foundation for a modern transport intelligence system capable of supporting safer roads, more efficient mobility, improved transport planning, and enhanced national security.”
The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, said the Smart National Transport Databank represents a turning point in Nigeria’s efforts to build a data-driven transport ecosystem.
He noted that NITT would play a central role in ensuring data quality, technical integration, and sustainability of the platform.
“This initiative gives Nigeria the opportunity to finally move from fragmented transport records to a unified, intelligent system that supports evidence-based decision-making across all transport modes.”he said.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, described the initiative as a major step forward for transport safety and crash data management.
“The Smart National Transport Databank is the bedrock that will give us reliable crash data, fleet statistics, infrastructure intelligence, and everything we need for effective planning.@ he noted.
This MOU is one of the best things that has happened to Nigeria’s transport system because it gives us holistic, accurate, and reliable data for planning and informed decision-making.”he added.
A representative of the Nigerian Air Force, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said the Armed Forces fully support the initiative, describing data as essential currency for national development and security.
“Data is currency, and we must be able to do things better than we used to do in the past. The Nigerian Air Force, and by extension the Armed Forces of Nigeria, is a stakeholder in this project to ensure we are partners in implementing it as much as possible.” he added.
He added that Nigeria must embrace collaboration and technology-driven solutions to address longstanding challenges in transport safety and national development.
Chairman of the occasion and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, described the project as a landmark in Nigeria’s transport reform journey.
“What is being signed today is far more than a concession agreement; it is the foundation for a new national transport intelligence architecture.”
He noted that the initiative builds on the National Transport Policy and addresses long-standing issues of fragmented data and weak coordination across the transport sector.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, transport data from road, rail, aviation, maritime, inland waterways, pipelines, logistics and freight movement systems will be collected, harmonised and managed within a unified national framework.”
Dr. Pauline Osasuna of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council also described the project as a critical reform tool for trade facilitation, cost reduction, and evidence-based regulation.
She said fragmented data has long affected port efficiency, leading to congestion, demurrage, and policy inefficiencies.
“For too long, Nigeria’s transport sector has relied on fragmented, inconsistent, and delayed data. This gap has cost shippers time, money, and global competitiveness. Today, we are changing that trajectory.”
Hisham Ridwan, Chief financial officer of Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Limited said the company is committed to delivering a secure, scalable, and globally compliant transport databank that will meet both current and future national demands.
“We are committed to delivering a robust digital infrastructure that will not only meet Nigeria’s current transport needs but also anticipate future demands as mobility and logistics systems evolve.”he emphasized
Persecondnews also reports that the ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Chartered Institute of logistics and transports, representatives of Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Limited, and key stakeholders across Nigeria’s transport sector
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