By Naomi Uzor

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has promised to support the Tunnelling Association of Nigeria, TAN, in its bid to promote underground technology and the smart city system.

Although the minister observed that major Nigerian cities are not expanding as expected, he said the country can embrace the tunnel technology in preparing for future growth and expansion.

The minister spoke while receiving members of the association in his office where he accepted the invitation to attend the first Nigerian International Tunnelling Conference coming up later this month in Lagos.

Leader of the delegation, Mr. Imo Ekpo, a member of TAN Board of Trustees, noted that global surface congestion has made the development of the underground space inevitable.

He notified the Minister that Nigeria was the fifth country in Africa to be enlisted by the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, ITA.