ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUCK TRANSIT PARK; A GOOD MOVE BY THE FG

Just few days ago, i wrote about “The ban of Trucks from Lagos Roads: Ogun State Wake-Up!”, I

am glad that the Federal Government is taking the bull by the horn (even though i would have preferred the State Governments to be the ones to key into this initiative as quick as possible so as to boost their IGR) through the proposed establishment of a Truck Transit Parks (TTP) ( or you can also call it a “Truck Park”) in the country in a bid to provide a short-term resting place for truck drivers that move cargo on long distances on Nigerian roads as a means of reducing road accident in the country.

According to a statement made available by Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Head of Special Duties, Nweke Ignatius at the weekend reveals that the Ministry of Transportation and other key stakeholders in the industry will meet on the 19th of November, 2017 to discuss the modalities of implementation of the initiative.

Nweke stated that the Minister for Transportation, ” Rotimi Amaechi will be the Chief Host at the event and would lead discussions with the aim to deal with issues of funding for the Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and the Truck Transit Parks (TTP), both PPP projects targeted at de-congesting the seaports and providing public rest areas designed to provide temporary rest location for truck drivers”.

Such initiative by the Federal Government is a welcome development,it will not only create employment for both indirect and direct labour. It will open the geographical location to a rapid economic, social and infrastructural development. With the proposed Truck Transit Parks, it will help to reduce the rate of accidents on our roads through the reduction in fatigue and boredom which is also part of the accident causation factors. The Parks will provide an avenue for the creation of filing stations, canteens and other social amenities.

There is no doubt that when established, it will create more revenue for the Federal Government and help to reduce the rate of accidents on the road which directly will help Nigeria in achieving the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety by 2020.