Nigeria Finally Adopts National Land Transport Policy After Decades of Delay
Kathy Kyari
Nigeria has taken a historic leap in its transport evolution with the Federal Government’s approval of the long-delayed National Land Transport Policy, a milestone that sector experts say could fundamentally reshape mobility, professionalise operations, and boost economic performance nationwide.
The breakthrough, announced by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), ends decades of stalled drafts and fragmented initiatives that had hindered coherent transport reform. The National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chizoba Anyika, confirmed during a virtual press briefing that the National Executive Council (NEC) approved the policy on July 31, 2025.
In a formal statement, CIOTA described the approval as a “bright torch of hope” sparked by resolutions from the Institute’s 7th National Conference held in Abuja. Anyika noted that years of advocacy, technical work, and collaboration among transport professionals and development partners had finally crystallised into a national asset.
Speaking with visible delight, she declared: “Let the media tell it to the world from the mountain top that Nigeria now has a Transportation Policy.” She added that her mandate to convey the announcement came directly from the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, during the conference.
The 7th CIOTA Conference, which brought together over 450 delegates at the NICON Luxury Hotel, featured inputs from former and serving leaders of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police, Vehicle Inspection Offices, military and paramilitary agencies, traditional rulers, and transport industry professionals. Conversations reinforced the urgent need for an integrated, multimodal, and globally aligned transport management system.
CIOTA President, Dr. Segun Obayendo, applauded the media for its consistent coverage of CIOTA’s reform efforts, stressing that professionalisation remains the foundation for building a modern, efficient, and economically viable transport sector. According to him, a fully professionalised ecosystem would significantly expand employment opportunities and enhance revenue generation.
Obayendo also highlighted CIOTA’s growing partnership with ALGON, the umbrella body for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils. Through this collaboration, each council is expected to appoint a Supervisory Councillor for Transport, a move aimed at decentralising transport governance and ensuring that even remote communities benefit from a structured, standardised system.
He maintained that deepening professionalism across all tiers of the sector would make the administration’s ₦1 trillion economic target far more achievable.
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