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33 Years After, National Transport Policy Now Driving Sector Reforms – Ex-FRSC Boss

Per Second NewsJune 15, 20262 Mins read688

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

After a 33-year delay, Nigeria’s approved National Transport Policy is finally transforming the country’s transport governance, according to former FRSC Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi.

Oyeyemi hailed the long-awaited policy as a landmark reform for the sector.

He spoke on Monday in an exclusive interview with Persecondnews on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the Smart National Transport Databank (S-NTDB) between the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) and Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Limited under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He said the approval of the policy after more than three decades marked a critical turning point in Nigeria’s transport reform journey, providing the long-missing framework for integrated planning across all transport modes.“I must commend the Federal Government and stakeholders for finally approving the National Transport Policy after 33 years. That alone is a major milestone that has set the direction for everything we are doing today,” he said.

He noted that the absence of a unified policy over the years had contributed to fragmented development in the transport sector, with weak coordination across road, rail, aviation, maritime, inland waterways and pipeline transport systems.

“For decades, Nigeria’s transport sector has operated in silos, with fragmented planning and weak coordination across the different modes of transportation,” he added.

Oyeyemi said the Smart National Transport Databank represents the next phase of reform, designed to address long-standing challenges of data inconsistency and poor integration in the sector.

“This is the beginning of a new transport intelligence architecture that will bring all modes of transportation into a single, unified data system.”

He expressed the hope that the databank would improve national planning, safety monitoring, logistics coordination and overall decision-making by providing real-time and reliable transport data.

“For the first time, Nigeria will have a structured system where transport data from road, rail, aviation, maritime, inland waterways, pipelines, logistics and freight systems will be harmonised for effective decision-making,” he added.

Oyeyemi further stressed that sustainability would depend on strong legal and institutional backing to prevent policy disruption and ensure continuity.

“One of our major challenges in Nigeria has always been policy discontinuity. That is why it is important that we strengthen the legal framework around this initiative so it can stand the test of time.”

He also noted that international development partners, including the World Bank, have consistently emphasized the importance of credible national data systems as a prerequisite for effective planning and economic growth.

According to him, reliable transport data would improve infrastructure planning, strengthen logistics operations, support safety interventions and enhance government decision-making across the sector.

“Transportation planning cannot be effective without credible data. Once decisions are based on information that cannot be verified, it creates problems. This initiative will help ensure that planning is driven by facts rather than assumptions,” he said.

Oyeyemi also commended the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) for driving the initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention that will redefine transport planning and management in the country.

He expressed optimism that the Smart National Transport Databank would accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a modern, integrated and data-driven transport system capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and national development.