SHOULD NIGERIA EMPHACISE TRANSPORTATION IN PLACE OF PUBLIC WORKS? Discussion points presented at...

SHOULD NIGERIA EMPHACISE TRANSPORTATION IN PLACE OF PUBLIC

WORKS?

Discussion points presented at Nigeria Development and Finance Forum 2013 in Washington DC

by Emmanuel H Onyekwere, PhD.Former Resource Allocation Manager DDOT &

Coordinator, NIDO Maryland, Baltimore Chapter

Transformation Agenda

• Wiktionary describes transformation as: A marked change in appearance or character, especially one for the better

• For the transformation agenda of the Federal Republic to make sense, it must make lives of Nigerians better.

• For thinking about transforming Nigeria, we must give credit to whom it is due.

Thinking and Doing: Two Opposite Sides of a Coin

• Achieving transformation require more than slogans.

• It requires planning and allocation of resources.• It requires clear definition of requirements and

what is to be measured. A schedule developed• It requires implementation and monitoring• The results must be quantifiable and measurable • The lessons learned, (good and bad) must be

documented and become part of Organization’s Process Assets (OPAs)

IS NIGERIA READY AND TRANSFORMING?

• The answer depends on where you look: For example, building Rapid Transit Systems and BRT bus lines in Lagos is transformation.

• Privatization of Power as advocated in my book is another.

• On going Transformation of Akwa Ibom public space by the government of that state are all remarkable achievements.

• The question is, are there plans in place to maintain and sustain these achievements.

Should Transportation be left out ?

• To achieve total transformation in Nigeria, all structures bequeathed from colonization should be changed for the better.

• The reason: ownership and rebranding, civic pride. Nigerians need to take ownership of their country.

• After Power Transformation, Transportation should be next.

Expand the US Nigeria Binational Commission Agreement

• Create additional working group to focus on Transportation.

• To create the conditions that allow systems developed for Nigeria to interface with systems in USA. Adopt a Transportation Model

• Under this model a new agency called the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) would emerge.

• Every State in the Federation would also adopt a similar nomenclature.

Use of the Binational Agreement with the U.S.

• Current Federal Ministries of Aviation would become a parastatal in charge of airspace management. A National Port Administration and Railroad, Motor Carrier Administrations would be created.

• The Nigeria Railway Corporation would be broken into six, become Regional Railway Commissions in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Use of the Binational Agreement with the U.S.

• Work with Federal Highway Administration under the agreement to implement the Federal Highway Aid Program.

• Under this program, the 36 States of Nigeria would only pay 20 percent and the federal government would pay 8o percent of all Transportation Infrastructure costs approved under the plan.

• Create the enabling Legislation to support the program.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• The United States Transportation Research Board (TRB) is an arm of the National Academies of Science.

• The National Academies of Science Advises the White House and this Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine.

• The annual TRB Conference in Washington, DC is held in January every year and takes place in four to six hotels simultaneously.

Use of the Binational Agreement with the U.S.

• There are well developed contacts at the TRB that can be leveraged to stage a similar Transportation Conference for the Nigeria and the ECOWAS Region in Abuja or Lagos.

• It requires and MOU between Nigeria and TRB, a Funding Agreement, a Participation agreement from all Research Universities in Nigeria, The Ministries of Science and Technology, Works, Transport, Aviation, Federal Emergency Road Management Agency and Private Sector Participants and Exhibitors.

• And a schedule. Thank you.