Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali has signed the ministerial performance bond with the Directors and the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of his ministry and agencies.
The bond signed, contains a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the sustainable developments envisioned for the transportation sector come to fruition before the end of the first tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2027.
According to a statement made public by the ministry’s Director, Press & Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, the performance bond was signed at the end of a 2-Day Ministerial Retreat in Abuja on Friday.
The Minister restated his commitment to deliver on his duties as minister, he claims that the bond will promote accountability, and timely and effective performance to realize the target set for his ministry.
Alkali urged the Directors and heads of agencies under him to remain committed to their roles in moving the sector forward, saying this will grow the country’s economy by providing an efficient and affordable transport system, a feat that he says has involved the public-private sector and not the government alone.
According to the statement, the highlight of the retreat was the signing of the roles with specific performance indicators to the head Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engineer Fidet Okhiria and the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Bayero Salih Farah.
Also present were the Director Rail Department of the Ministry, Engineer Finbarr Zirra; the Director of Road Mass Transit, Mr. Musa Ibrahim; Director of Legal Services of the Ministry, Mr. Pius Oteh; the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Mrs. Yetunde Aileru; Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Omotayo Shogo; Director of Finance and Account of the Ministry; Mr Chinasa Ogbodo all participated in the signing of the performance bond with the minister.
Okhiria noted that the redesign of the Makarfi to Kano track lane gauge from narrow to standard is in its final stages while the formation of Makarfi to Kaduna is ongoing. This will make it possible to move from Abuja to Kano via train by 2025.
Farah also noted that his role will include the provision of the required manpower for the transport industry to bring in innovation and conduct research in various aspects of the transport sector.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Oloruntola Olufemi also assured the Minister of the commitment of the signatories to work together for the progress of the sector.
