Only 17 Out of 76,000 Trucks Registered for Ports Operations Met Required Standard, Laments Saraki
Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki
*As FG moves to streamline, strengthen regulation of road transport operations
By Our Reporter
The Minister of State, Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, on Monday lamented that most of the trucks registered at the nation’s seaports for movement of goods were far from the required standard.
Saraki expressed disappointment that only 17 out of the 76,000 trucks registered for seaports operations were of the required standard.
She said that the situation was such that even Lomé and Cotonou have been complaining of the low quality of Nigerian trucks.
The disclosed that there are moves to streamline and strengthen the regulation of road transportation as well as mass transit vehicles in the country.
Saraki who spoke during a meeting with automotive manufacturers led by the Chief Executive Officer of BKG Exhibitions Limited and Chairman, Organising Committee of the Abuja International Motor Fair, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, said this was to check low quality of vehicles on Nigerian roads, particularly highways.
The Minister said the plan will reposition road transportation in the country to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
She disclosed that arrangements have been made to hold meetings with assemblers and manufacturers on how to address the challenges.
On the mass transit vehicles, she also said that since 97 percent of movement in the country is done on the road, the planned regulation has become imperative.
“This afternoon I was in a meeting that the vice president chaired and we were looking at how best to tackle the issue of road transportation.
“I am sure you will agree with me that right now, it is unregulated. Anybody can put a vehicle on the road and call himself a transporter and they will start working. Funds are not coming, taxes are not paid, there is no consumer satisfaction, there is no feedback, it’s completely disoriented right now.”
“With the ACFTA coming, this morning it came out that we have a lot of substandard vehicles on the roads. I know that Lome and Cotonou have complained that the vehicles in Nigeria are below standard. Of the 76,000 trucks registered, supposedly, only 17 met the standard.”
Agwu had during the visit pointed out the problems of the auto industry, adding that it has become everybody’s affair.
According to him, the automotive industry was under heavy stress with lack of safety of goods being transported with bad vehicles and inconsistency in policy.
About Post Author
