Engineers seek integrated transport network for economic growth - Punch Newspapers
One of the roads to be unveiled by the Ogun State Government.... Photo Credit: OGSG
The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers has called for an integrated transportation network linking roads, railways, inland waterways, seaports, airports and other logistics infrastructure to support Nigeria’s economic growth and diversification. The call was made at the 2026 Conference and Annual General Meeting of NIHTE, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, held in Lagos with the theme “Diversifying Nigeria’s Economy Through Strategic Intermodal Transportation Links”. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, a director with the ministry, Bolaji Bada, called for an integrated transportation network linking roads, railways, inland waterways, seaports, airports and other logistics infrastructure to support Nigeria’s economic growth and diversification. Osiyemi said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on road transportation had placed considerable pressure on highways, contributing to congestion, pavement deterioration, higher logistics costs, and reduced competitiveness. According to him, a diversified economy requires a diversified transport network in which roads connect effectively with rail, inland waterways, seaports, dry ports, airports, industrial parks, agricultural belts, and urban transit systems. He noted that improved intermodal connectivity would reduce the cost of moving agricultural produce, raw materials, and manufactured goods and exports while opening up opportunities across different regions of the country. Osiyemi also stressed the employment potential of transportation infrastructure, noting that investment in the sector creates direct jobs in engineering, construction, maintenance, rail operations, logistics, traffic management and public transportation, while also supporting jobs in manufacturing, technology and other sectors. He urged policymakers and infrastructure planners to adopt a corridor-based approach rather than focusing on isolated projects, saying transport corridors should connect production centers, industrial clusters, ports, markets, and urban centres. He cited the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway and its connection to Apapa Port as an example of how rail could complement road transportation and support freight movement. He also identified the Lekki Deep Sea Port as another strategic project whose wider economic benefits would depend on effective road, rail, and logistics connections to inland markets and industrial areas. The commissioner further pointed to the integration of rail, bus, and water transportation in Lagos as an indication of how different transport modes could work together to ease pressure on congested roads. He called for greater attention to infrastructure maintenance, safety, technology and private-sector financing, stressing that the success of transportation projects should be measured by their impact on productivity, travel time, trade, employment and the cost of doing business. In his opening remarks, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ali Rabiu, represented by Oludayo Oluyemi said the conference was taking place at an important stage in Nigeria’s development. VIDEO: Desmond Elliot apologises to Gbajabiamila, seeks reconciliation Retirement age bill for Lagos magistrates, law officers not executive-sponsored – Attorney-General Abia targets seven sectors to boost industrialisation Rabiu said an efficient transportation network was essential to connecting producers to markets, industries to raw materials, communities to opportunities, and Nigeria to the global economy. He charged engineers with providing the innovation, technical expertise, and evidence-based solutions needed to transform the country’s transportation infrastructure into an engine of economic growth. He said the goal should be to develop transportation systems that are functional, safe, efficient, sustainable, and able to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman of the NSE, Lagos Branch, Olukorede Kesha, stressed the need for strict adherence to engineering designs and specifications in executing infrastructure projects. He disclosed that proper supervision was as important as design, noting that engineers must ensure that contractors implement projects according to approved specifications. He warned engineers against cutting corners, saying their actions or inactions could have wider implications for the country and its international reputation. According to him, infrastructure development should be approached from conceptualisation and design through implementation and maintenance, with sustainability considered throughout the entire process. At the conference, newly conferred NIHTE fellows also pledged to uphold professional standards and contribute to national development. One of the awardees, Adejala Olatunji, described the fellowship as both an honour and a responsibility, saying he would continue to uphold engineering specifications, precision and professional ethics. Another awardee, Olufisayo Badmus, said the fellowship would provide opportunities to take on higher responsibilities, assignments and research. Badmus also advocated greater participation of women in highway and transportation engineering, saying female engineers had demonstrated their ability to contribute effectively to a profession traditionally regarded as male-dominated. She encouraged young people, particularly women, to consider engineering as a serious career, stressing that the profession offered opportunities for professional advancement and contribution to national development. Felix Oloyede
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