It is the view of Dr Frederick Oladeinde, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, that an effective and efficient urban transport system will promote trade and commerce in the state and Africa at large.
Oladeinde’s postulation was made at the maiden meeting of the Centre For Applied Research in Supply Chain-Africa (CARISCA) in Lagos on Friday.
Represented by Mr Gbolahan Toriola, Director of Operation, Ministry of Transportation, the commissioner said strong institutions, partnerships, legal framework and implementation were beneficial in achieving an effective and efficient urban transport system in the state.
CARISCA operates in partnership with the School of Transport and Logistics of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, in ensuring sustainable urban mobility.
The topic of the programme is: “The Impact of Urban Transport Systems on Fast Moving Consumer Goods Supply (FMCGs) Chain”.
“The efforts of the state in driving a sustainable model for public transportation cannot be said to be without challenges. But with partnerships with relevant stakeholders, work is ongoing round the clock, in a bid to tackle the situation.
“With the ongoing transportation reforms and infrastructural investment going on in the state, in the next 25 years, Lagos will experience a growth that will align with global standards.
“We align with the principles of urban mobility and other international convention, in order to achieve a sustainable urban mobility and transportation network,” Oladeinde said.
He added that the objective of the state was to encapsulate the growing national consciousness on issues of road infrastructure, policy, technology, road safety and affordable transport network, which would trigger a significant reduction in operational cost.
“The government is working tirelessly to proffer urban transportation solutions in terms of policy, guidelines, infrastructure, technology and operations that are sustainable and in line with global standards,” the commissioner said.
Prof. Charles Asenime, Dean, School of Transport, LASU, said that the attitude of some Nigerians, particularly drivers, had also contributed to the bad traffic situation in the state.
Asenime said that if the Lagos government and other stakeholders could sort out the traffic situation in the state, it meant such could be replicated anywhere in the country.
Also speaking, Prof. Gbadebo Odewumi, former Dean, School of Transport, LASU, said that the government still needed to pay more attention to transportation in the state.
“The Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) needs to be more empowered to shield the operatives from the regular attacks they have been exposed to, particularly from law-breaking motorists,” he said.
Mr Tonye Preghafi, Chief Innovation Officer, Red Star Express Plc, said that many FMCGs companies were using data analysis to solve problems and generate insights and actions to solve customer sales.
Preghafi, then urged organisations to always use innovative technology for e-commerce and to drive consumer sales.
“Availability is the new innovation, having products on the shelf is better than any new product innovation,” he said.
