NPERA Advocates Transport System Integration for Trade

At the second Nigeria Transport Summit held in Lagos, experts called for the integration of Nigeria's fragmented transport system, which includes road, rail, aviation, and maritime sectors. The summit, themed ‘Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future’, highlighted the importance of a multifaceted security apparatus for the multi-modal transportation system.

Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), emphasized that trade bottlenecks, unpredictable port charges, and fragmented infrastructure negatively impact Nigeria's commercial competitiveness. He stated that effective stakeholder engagement and evidence-based regulation are crucial for reducing logistics costs and improving operational efficiency.

Ukeyima also noted that seamless trade facilitation is essential for national growth, urging federal authorities and private operators to accelerate integration across various transport modes to enhance cargo movement from ports to inland markets.