Transport minister seeks more funds for infrastructure development

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, has called for increased funding to sustain and expand the nation’s transportation infrastructure as outlined in the 2025 budget proposal.

He disclosed this in a statement signed by Chief Information Officer, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Gift Seddon, on Friday.

Addressing the Joint Committees at the National Assembly in Abuja, Alkali expressed the Ministry’s commitment to realising Nigeria’s Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan.

He explained that the 2025 budget proposal was designed to build on the successes of the 2024 Appropriations Act and ensure continuity in the government’s developmental agenda.

“In order to sustain the progressive output under the 2024 Appropriation Act, in this financial year, there is a need for increased funding to improve the existing infrastructure in all the agencies under the Ministry,” Alkali said.

The minister emphasized that the proposal aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, focusing on rail modernization projects and other modes of land transportation. He further appealed to the National Assembly for sustained support amid challenges in securing counterpart funding through loans.

Alkali highlighted the pivotal role of transportation in national development, describing it as “an enabler of economic growth and a gateway to the nation’s economy.”

In reviewing the ministry’s achievements for 2024, the minister cited the rehabilitation of the narrow gauge railway from Lagos to Kano, which is now operational for freight movement from Lagos Port to the Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano. He described this as a significant milestone in reviving economic activities.

Additionally, Alkali informed the Joint Committees about the commissioning of a 62km rail corridor from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Aba, Abia State. This development, he noted, aims to strengthen the link between the Eastern Ports and the hinterland.

The minister also detailed the Ministry’s collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas. He revealed that 15 CNG-powered buses were distributed to three transport unions—the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, and the National Association of Road Transport Owners.

The initiative, he explained, was aimed at easing transportation challenges caused by the removal of petrol subsidies and represents “the government’s commitment to empowering citizens while transitioning to a cleaner energy economy.”

Alkali also announced that the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology has developed and commissioned CNG Conversion and Training Centres in Abuja, Zaria, Enugu, Borno, and Kogi States, with plans to expand the initiative to all 36 states of the Federation.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Joint Senate/House Committees on Land Transport, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero, emphasized the importance of efficient transportation infrastructure to Nigeria’s progress.

“The nation’s progress is intricately tied to the efficiency and development of our transportation infrastructure, making this budget defence a pivotal moment for shaping the trajectory of our country’s future,” Aliero stated.

He also stressed the need for further development of Nigeria’s rail system, describing it as “the best alternative and only substitute to over-reliance and pressure on the country’s road network.”