By Mukhtar Sagir Dambatta
The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level committee to oversee the implementation of the Smart National Transport Databank (SNTDB), under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
This is contained in a statement issued by Osima Gift Seddon, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Funsho Adebiyi said SNTDB was designed to close long-standing gaps in transport data collection, coordination and access, and to strengthen evidence-based planning and investment across the sector.
“For years we have made transport decisions with incomplete data. This databank will change that. It will give the government, operators and investors reliable, real-time information to plan, regulate and secure our transport system,” Adebiyi said.
He recalled that the SNTDB was first approved at the 12th National Council on Transportation in 2012.
He added that the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), was mandated to establish it under the supervision of the ministry.
He said the project has now received Federal Executive Council approval to be delivered under a 20-year Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT), PPP concession awarded to Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Ltd.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, chaired by the permanent secretary, comprises representatives from Federal Ministry of Transportation, NITT, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Others are the Federal Ministry of Works, Office of the National Security Adviser, the concessionaire, Asia Arab Investment Nigeria Ltd, and other key stakeholders
According to the permanent secretary, the committee will oversee implementation in line with the concession agreement, Full Business Case and relevant laws.
“The committee will also monitor project milestones and timelines, çoordinate participating agencies, manage risks and implementation challenges, ensure financial and governance accountability and submit periodic progress reports to the ministry,” he added.
Adebiyi said the ministry remained committed to providing the policy and institutional leadership needed for successful delivery.
“We will work with NITT, the concessionaire and all relevant stakeholders to ensure we develop a functional, secure and nationally integrated transport intelligence system that benefits the government, transport operators and the Nigerian public.
“The SNTDB is expected to improve road safety enforcement, reduce revenue leakages, enhance logistics planning and support national security efforts,” he reiterated.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITT, Dr. Bayero Farah, described the SNTDB as a national transport intelligence infrastructure.
He said the system was designed to support planning, regulation, safety, security, infrastructure development and evidence-based decision making.
He listed the key components of the project to include 250 solar-powered intelligent gantries across major corridors, Traffic Management Centres in all 36 states and the FCT, a Main National Data Centre among others.
“This is not just a database. It is the brain of Nigeria’s transport system. It will tell us what is moving, where, when and how safely,” Farah said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)