The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) has urged President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Road Reform Bill.

The Institute stated that the bill aims to revolutionise the country?s transportation infrastructure by ensuring the development and maintenance of a high-quality road network, which is expected to improve transportation efficiency, boost economic growth, and enhance road safety across Nigeria.

The NIHTE National Chairman, Engr. Saidu Hassan, made the appeal at its 2024 International Conference and Annual General Meeting held on Friday in Abuja.

He added that the bill had been passed by both the eighth and ninth National Assemblies and is currently undergoing review by the 10th Assembly.

The Chairman said, ?In Nigeria, highway and transportation engineering plays a vital role in economic development, social progress, and national integration. Our roads, highways, and transportation systems are the arteries of the economy, facilitating the movement of goods, services, and people from one location to another. However, we face significant challenges, including inadequate funding and resources, outdated technology and infrastructure, insufficient skilled personnel, and poor maintenance and management.

?We are advocating for a comprehensive review of the road sector to address issues such as funding, regulations, and maintenance. We seek your unalloyed support to help us push for the presidential assent on the road reforms bill that was passed by the 8th and 9th National Assemblies and is also currently being reviewed by the current Assembly,? he said.

A major component of the bill includes the establishment of the National Road Fund, which would provide a sound governance structure based on sectoral professionalism, as well as create sustainable and robust funding for road development and maintenance in the country.

Hassan also explained that the Institute is actively advocating for the promotion of policies aimed at creating a safer, more efficient transportation system. This effort involves providing a range of training and development opportunities designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of industry professionals.

The House Committee Chairman on FERMA, Aderemi Oseni, assured NIHTE of legislative support through future legislation aimed at ensuring an improved road network across the country.

The House member, represented by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, also emphasised the need for a concerted effort from both the government and stakeholders to focus on revitalising the rail system, particularly by establishing a rail connection between the northern and southern regions of the country.

This, he explained, would help reduce the heavy burden on the road infrastructure, promoting a more balanced and efficient transportation system.

He said, ?We have to change the discourse to achieve a different result. We keep complaining that our roads are bad and in need of repair. How thick can our roads be to sustain the heavy trucks that transport food products every day? Why don?t we have a different plan that includes the railway? I am not saying it?s the solution, but let?s have a discussion on it and see it as a reliable alternative.?

Earlier in his keynote address, the National Coordinator of the Rural Access and Agricultural Monitoring Project, Muhammed Bodinga, speaking on the theme, ?Rural Road Infrastructure: Catalyst, Panacea, and Cornerstone of Food Security,? explained that the causes of food insecurity are multifaceted and deeply intertwined, influenced by both human-driven and natural factors.

He said human actions, such as poor infrastructure like bad roads, hinder the efficient transportation of food, making it difficult for rural areas to access essential supplies.

Additionally, rising insecurity in certain regions prevents farmers from cultivating their land and disrupts the food distribution process.

He stated, ?Lack of access to the food value chain?from production, distribution, and processing to storage facilities?is responsible for food insecurity in the country.?

The RAAMP Coordinator further revealed that they have carried out interventions in various states of the country, fixing rural roads for farmers to have access to markets.

According to him, 19 states have passed the State Road Fund and Rural Access and Agricultural Agency bills, with the target of improving rural roads.

The highlight of the event was the conferment of fellowship to 50 members of the profession.

Meanwhile, the President and Chairman of the Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Margaret Oguntala has appealed for a deliberate government effort to fund the construction and maintenance of rural roads to ease the transportation of agricultural products into urban areas.

She cautioned that unless drastic efforts are made by the government to address the poor state of rural roads, the country will continue to experience food insecurity.

Reading the communiqu? from its international conference held earlier this week, the president said 70 per cent of Nigeria?s agricultural produce comes from rural areas.

?However, poor road networks hinder the transportation and distribution of produce from farms to markets, causing spoilage, raising costs, and reducing accessibility to consumers.?

She further recommended that ?Government at all levels and donor agencies should fund the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of rural roads to ease the challenges of food transportation in Nigeria.? (The PUNCH)

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