Stakeholders seek greater private sector role in transport reform
Lagos, June 2026 (TBL Africa ) Transport stakeholders have called for stronger private sector participation to support government efforts to reposition Nigeria’s transport sector for accelerated economic growth.
The call was made on Thursday in Lagos during a news conference organised by Global Transport Policy (GTP).
GTP Chairman, Dr Oluwasegun Musa, said the fourth edition of the industry conference would hold on June 17, focusing on sustainable transport transformation.
Musa said government alone could not drive reforms, stressing the need for non-state actors to contribute meaningfully to sectoral development and economic revitalisation.
The 2026 GTP Annual Multimodal Roundtable is with the theme, ‘Transforming Nigeria’s Transport System: Integrating Solutions for Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability.’
Musa said: “Transforming the transport system will address safety, efficiency and sustainability through coordinated policy and infrastructure solutions.
“The conference will feature three sub-themes to be handled by leading scholars and industry experts with deep knowledge of transport systems.”
He said the first sub-theme, ‘Investment: Driving a Resilient Workforce,’ would focus on strengthening human capital and institutional capacity.
He said the second sub-theme, ‘Seamless Mobility,’ would promote integrated systems to boost economic growth and improve nationwide connectivity.
According to him, the third sub-theme, ‘Safe, Smart Mobility,’ will explore innovative solutions for environmentally friendly and technology-driven transport systems.
Musa said ministers and other senior government officials overseeing transport-related portfolios were expected to attend and contribute to policy discussions.
He disclosed that more than 400 participants and several media organisations were expected, reflecting the conference’s growing relevance.
Musa said punctuality would be strictly observed, adding that proceedings would begin at 10 a.m.
He revealed that the Lagos State governor had confirmed attendance as special guest, unlike previous editions.
“His presence will provide direct engagement with experts discussing Nigeria’s multimodal transport future,” Musa said.
He added that local government participation was being prioritised, with the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government invited to broaden grassroots involvement.
Musa said effective transport systems must integrate local, state and federal structures to achieve a functional and holistic mobility framework.
He emphasised the need to reduce dependence on road transport by shifting more cargo movement to rail and waterways.
Prof. Iyiola Oni, Director of the Centre for Multimodal Transport Studies, University of Lagos, called for a programmatic and integrated transport strategy.
Oni said excessive reliance on roads had contributed to infrastructure deterioration in spite of substantial government investment.
He advocated clearer institutional responsibilities among ministries to improve coordination across rail, road, aviation and maritime transport systems.
GTP Chief Operating Officer, Mr Mark Onuchi, said the conference would encourage collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders to drive multimodal integration and innovation.
He added that a communiqué from the event would guide government agencies in implementing sustainable transport policies.
