Stakeholders Seek Formalisation Of Transport Sector At CILT Nigeria Conference

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s transport and logistics industry have called for the formalisation of the country’s largely informal transport sector to improve economic contributions, strengthen regulation and promote sustainable national development.

The call was made at the 2026 National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, where participants examined strategies to transform the sector through improved coordination, technology adoption, and stronger professional collaboration.

Speaking at the conference, the special adviser to the vice president on Transportation, Segun Obayendo, said the informal nature of significant parts of Nigeria’s road transport and inland waterways sectors had made it difficult to measure their contributions to the economy accurately.

Obayendo also said the challenge required collective action by government, professional bodies and industry operators.

He cited discussions with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), during which the difficulty of capturing economic activities in the informal transport sector was identified as a factor affecting the measurement of the sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Obayendo said formalising the sector would strengthen its economic relevance and improve public understanding of the contribution transport professionals make to national development.

Earlier, CILT Nigeria national president, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the conference was designed to generate practical solutions to the challenges confronting the country’s transport and logistics systems.

Oyeyemi said transport and logistics were central to economic productivity, influencing how farmers move produce to markets, manufacturers obtain raw materials, businesses distribute goods and citizens access employment opportunities.

He said Nigeria needed to move beyond the construction of individual transport infrastructure projects to the development of an integrated system connecting roads, railways, maritime transport, aviation, inland waterways, ports, terminals, and logistics hubs.

According to him, persistent infrastructure gaps, weak coordination among institutions, high logistics costs, inconsistent regulatory requirements, security concerns and climate pressures continued to constrain the sector.

He said discussions at the conference would focus on infrastructure financing, digital technology, artificial intelligence, intermodal connectivity, regulatory consistency and inclusive mobility.

The CILT president urged participants to translate their deliberations into practical commitments and partnerships that would improve transport services and business operations.

“The success of this gathering will not be determined by the panels or private discussions alone. It will be determined by the partnerships we build, commitments we make, and the action plan,” he said.

In a goodwill message, the secretary-general of CILT International, Paul Macdonald, commended the Nigerian chapter for contributing to the development of a strong global professional community.

Macdonald, who said he was unable to attend the conference, encouraged members to continue working together, learn from one another and celebrate their collective achievements.

Also speaking, the former global president of CILT, Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey, appreciated Nigeria for its contribution to CILT.

He also appreciated Nigeria for what it played during his time as president.