Otti Urges FG, Stakeholders to Professionalise Nigeria’s Transport Sector for Global Competitiveness

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the Federal Government and key industry stakeholders to professionalise Nigeria’s transportation sector to meet global standards.

Otti made the call in Abuja during the National Transportation Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA). Represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, the governor stressed the need for collective efforts to reposition the sector for global competitiveness.

He explained that policymakers must develop enabling legislation and master plans, while investors should provide capital, technology, and expertise. According to him, regulators must ensure transparency and professionalism, academia and innovators should drive local solutions and research, and citizens should demand accountability while supporting reform initiatives.

Governor Otti noted that transforming Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and governance framework requires immediate and coordinated action, adding that “the journey to global competitiveness begins with a single bold step and unwavering commitment to doing things differently.”

He urged stakeholders to “be the generation that redefines Nigeria’s trajectory” by building the roads, rails, ports, and policies that will usher the country into a prosperous future.

Highlighting Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa and its vast resources, Otti reaffirmed that the nation has the potential to become a globally competitive economy if it embraces reform and innovation.

The governor also advocated decentralisation and greater private sector participation, emphasising that governance must evolve from a centralised system to a collaborative framework. He said state governments and private investors should be empowered and incentivised to develop and manage transport infrastructure.

Otti further called for a transparent, streamlined regulatory environment that supports rather than hinders development, and urged the strengthening of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a key driver of progress.

He maintained that government must shift from being the sole financier of projects to becoming an enabler, noting that viable PPP models with clear risk-sharing frameworks can unlock billions in infrastructure financing and drive sustainable development in Nigeria’s transport sector.