By Godfrey Bivbere
LAGOS—Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has stressed the importance of transportation to the development of the nation’s economy.

Akpobolokemi who spoke when he hosted members of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, CILT, led by its president, Mr Michael Filani, expressed worry over wrong priorities in the sector, which had led to collapsed infrastructure in the country.

Hajia Lami Tumaka, Head of Public Relations, NIMASA in a statement, said Akpobolokemi frowned at the rots in the transport sector occasioned by bad roads and collapsed rail system, adding that the sector was too important to be neglected.

He said transportation was the hub of development whether viewed economically or socially, and urged CILT to partner with stakeholders to ensure that the trend was reversed.

According to him, “transportation moves and shapes the world economy. The world is united because transportation bridges the space and time barriers. If you kill transportation, it is like you are killing life and this is why the transport sector is too important to be relegated. Even with the digital revolution, transportation still remains a key element to development because of moving people and goods from one point to another.”

The DG, who observed that the institute should be in the fore front of setting the agenda on policy thrusts to assist government in developing the transport sector, said if the people were enlightened on the inherent opportunities in the sector, more jobs would be created thereby reducing poverty and crime in the country.