DAKUKU Peterside, director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Ndowa Lale, vice chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, have averred that a robust integrated transportation is crucial to the economic development of any country and Nigeria in particular.

Speaking on Monday, May 22, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies, CELTRAS, of the university, Dakuku and Lale agreed that a well-coordinated and integrated transport system is an enabler for movement of goods and services efficiently and effectively, which is vital to achieving economic growth and diversification.

Dakuku said that, “A well-coordinated and integrated transport system is an enabler for movement of goods and services to create time, place and possession utilities; and these are key to economic diversification, which is one of the prime components of the change agenda of the present administration. The dexterity and commitment to advancing the course of transport, logistics and supply chain through research in this Centre would empower people with requisites skills and opportunities, thus bridging the dearth of knowledge in the maritime sector.”

Dakuku equally noted that transportation was a critical infrastructure needed to complement and support government programmes and activities geared towards fulfilling the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government.

Corroborating the NIMASA DG’s statement, Lale, said that the importance of the transport sector to the economy could not be overstated; hence the need for continuous collaboration amongst industry stakeholders is pertinent.

Inaugurating the Governing Board of the CELTRAS, with the DG NIMASA, as chairman, the VC charged them with the responsibilities of identifying and developing strategies for the growth and development of the centre and also developing effective and mutual beneficial relationship with the government and industry players, to contribute to policies that will lead to a robust integrated transport sector to grow the economy.

The new Board, which consists members of the academia as well as public and private sector industry practitioners, to be led by Peterside, has eminent personalities as Board members, amongst whom are Ibrahim A. Jibril, Lizzie O. Ovbude, Henry Alapiki, Anthonia Okerengwo, Austine Odili,  Gladys Emenike, ACM Kayode Olagunju, Kinikanwo Anele, Solomon Maram Ishaya, Aminu Yusuf, Ekpenyong E. Eke, and Enya Antioch.

The VC, further charged members of the Board to bring their vast experience to bear in the running of the Centre, stated that the advent of the new Board would also consolidate on the achievements of the Centre and steer it to deliver on its vision. He added that he was particularly glad that a resource of Dakuku’s calibre was called to serve the university, thus giving him the optimism that the dispensation of the new Board would be a success.

“The aim of the Centre includes a strong desire to impact solid intellectual theoretical, methodological foundations and skills on our students and faculty. This would position them to work competitively in varied Logistics and Transport Planning and management positions in public and private sector to grow the economy of our nation. I have no doubt therefore, that as thorough professionals you are all well-grounded to make the Centre a place where excellence is the watchword”, Lale said.

In his acceptance speech, the NIMASA DG pledged the support of all the members of the Board to the development of the centre and assured that they would not fail in delivering their mandate.

In his acceptance speech, the NIMASA DG pledged to support all the members of the Board to the development of the Centre and assured that they would not fail in delivering their mandate.

According to Dr. Dakuku, “as it was part of the Centre’s activities to engage in creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, my team and i would always be favourably disposed to giving our time, skills and all available resources to ensure the sector’s attainment of a remarkable impact via the Centre by making it a reference point in the whole of Africa”.

The mandate of the new Board is in alignment with the mission of the Centre, which is to identify and develop strategies and tactics necessary for the advancement of the nation’s transport sector, as Transportation is indispensable in any discourse and plan for economic growth and development.

—  May 23, 2017 @ 17:25 GMT