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October 16, 2025
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Shettima: Nigeria is poised to lead Africa in intelligent transport systems.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has claimed that the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is dedicated to positioning Nigeria as a global leader in intelligent transportation innovation.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) with the theme “Intelligent Transport System” yesterday in Abuja, Shettima, represented by Muhammad Ahmed, Senior Special Assistant on Emergency Management, outlined an ambitious roadmap to address Nigeria’s transportation challenges while aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA) organised the event, which brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the adoption of intelligent transport solutions.

Shettima emphasized the significant issues facing Nigeria’s road infrastructure. Only 31% of the country’s 195,000 kilometres of roads are asphalted, corresponding to fewer than one kilometre per inhabitant.

With 14 million vehicles on the road, this amounts to an average of 260 vehicles per km of asphalted road, highlighting the critical need for innovative and long-term solutions to meet Nigeria’s expanding transportation demands.”

He emphasised Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, which is linked to three of the nine designated Trans-African Highway routes, putting the country at the forefront of flagship projects such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Trans-African Highway Network, both of which are part of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

“With Nigeria projected to become the third most populous country by 2050, the adoption of intelligent and autonomous transportation systems is no longer optional but essential,” added the governor.

Shettima highlighted that these systems provide comprehensive solutions to problems such as traffic accidents, overloaded trucks, and inefficiencies in enforcement.

“Citing recent road traffic incidents, including the tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, and another in Enugu State over the weekend, he highlighted the devastating human and economic costs of these challenges,” the politician stated.

He went on to discuss the transformative potential of ITS, which uses real-time data to minimize traffic congestion, improve road safety with automated compliance systems, and track driver transgressions using unified databases.

The federal government announced several significant projects to modernize Nigeria’s transportation sector:

“Pilot Programs: Pilots for intelligent transportation systems will be launched in Lagos, Kano, and Bauchi to demonstrate their usefulness and gain support for statewide implementation.

“Unified National Database: A centralized vehicle and driver database will be created to improve compliance and enforcement while expediting regulatory operations.

“Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Resources will be mobilized by collaborating with private sector stakeholders to foster innovation and assure sustainability.

Shettima emphasized that the success of these programs is dependent on collaboration between the federal, state, and municipal governments, corporate sector leaders, international partners, and civil society.

“The time to plan is past. “We are in the decade of action,” he announced. “To accomplish these goals, we must remain united in purpose.

Prince (Dr) Segun Obayendo, president and chairman of CIoTA’s governing council, emphasized the necessity of using technology and innovative solutions to address Nigeria’s developing transportation concerns.

He stated, “The theme of this engagement, Intelligent Transportation System, couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

“As global trends increasingly lean towards sustainable, efficient, and data-driven transport systems, it is imperative that Nigeria aligns itself with these advancements to ensure our transport infrastructure is not only competitive but also adaptive to the needs of our citizens and businesses.”

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