The National President of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA) Nigeria Segun Obayendo has called for the synchronization of urban mobility initiatives nationwide urging all states to make transportation their priority agenda .
Obayendo made the call during his closing remarks at a high level panel discussion at the World Bank-supported 2nd National Stakeholders’ Forum on the National Urban Mobility Program (NUMP) in Abuja.
Addressing a forum of commissioners, policymakers, and development partners, on “Perspectives on Urban Mobility in Nigeria” Obayendo outlined steps that will translate dialogue into tangible progress.
“The essence of being here today is we want to still keep seeing all the ugly pictures in our photobook, let us do nothing,” he stated. “But if we don’t want that ugly picture to be the way we will be described, you are being called into action.”
He advocated for the creation of a National Coordinating Agency within the Federal Ministry of Transportation to synchronize urban mobility initiatives nationwide.
The CiOTA President further charged all state governments to prioritize transport by developing comprehensive Master plans, establishing State Transport Metropolitan Authorities, and integrating Local Government Transport Systems.
A central pillar of his agenda was the structured transition of the informal transport sector into the formal economy.
“Taking a cue from Lagos State, the only way to expedite progress is to have a national body coordinating these takeaways,” Prince Obayendo asserted. “All states must make transportation their Number One Agenda.”
Obayendo’s closing arguments reinforced CIoTA’s role as a key advocate for professional governance and strategic implementation in Nigeria’s transport sector.
The forum, backed by the World Bank and convened in partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners Forum, marks a significant step in aligning national and sub-national strategies for sustainable urban transport development.
