Transport Summit: Stakeholders Seek Integrated Infrastructure, Port Reforms to Cut Nigeria’s Logistics Costs

By Daphne Uduneje

Nigeria’s quest for a competitive economy, efficient trade corridors and sustainable economic growth may depend significantly on how effectively it addresses the structural challenges confronting its transport sector.
From congested seaports and inadequate rail connections to high logistics costs, fragmented regulatory structures and persistent infrastructure deficits, the country’s transport ecosystem continues to face challenges that undermine the movement of goods and services, increase the cost of doing business and constrain its competitiveness in the global market.

Against this backdrop, stakeholders at the second edition of the Transport Summit, organised by JustAlive Communications Limited in Lagos, have called for far-reaching reforms, coordinated infrastructure development and increased investment in technology-driven transport systems to reposition the sector for sustainable growth.

The summit, held on October 23, 2026, at Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, focused on the theme, ‘Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future.’

The gathering brought together stakeholders from the aviation, maritime, rail and other segments of the transport industry to examine the structural challenges affecting the sector and identify practical interventions capable of improving efficiency, connectivity, safety and investment.

Chaired by Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical Services, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the summit featured Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and Dr. Femi Aiyegbajeje, a transport specialist and academic at the University of Lagos, as key speakers.

At the heart of the deliberations was the recognition that transportation is not merely an infrastructure service but a critical component of national economic productivity, industrial development and international trade.

For an economy seeking to diversify its revenue base, expand non-oil exports and take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an inefficient transport system could significantly limit the benefits of trade liberalisation.

Participants therefore stressed the need for Nigeria to move away from the fragmented development of its transport subsectors towards an integrated system that connects roads, railways, airports, seaports and inland waterways.

Breaking the barriers to integrated transportation

One of the major concerns highlighted at the summit was the lack of effective coordination among the different modes of transportation.

Despite the strategic importance of road, rail, air and maritime infrastructure, their development and operations have largely remained disconnected, creating inefficiencies that increase the cost and time required to move passengers and cargo across the country.

The summit consequently called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to adopt a coordinated national transport development framework capable of integrating the various subsectors into a seamless network.

Of particular importance is the integration of rail freight services with seaports and inland dry ports to facilitate the evacuation of cargo from maritime gateways to inland production and consumption centres.

Such connectivity, participants noted, would reduce the excessive dependence on road transportation, ease pressure on major highways, minimise cargo delays and improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics chain.

The development of inland waterways also featured prominently in the recommendations.

Participants advocated increased investment in navigational facilities, safety infrastructure and supporting logistics services, noting that the effective utilisation of the country’s waterways could provide an alternative channel for cargo movement, decongest seaports and reduce transportation costs.

However, achieving these objectives would require sustained investment, policy consistency and stronger collaboration among government institutions, regulators, operators and private-sector investors.

The summit cautioned against frequent policy reversals and weak implementation, stressing that the success of transport reforms would depend largely on the ability of successive administrations and relevant institutions to sustain policies and translate recommendations into measurable outcomes.

Port reforms, transparency and operational efficiency

Beyond infrastructure connectivity, the summit placed considerable emphasis on the need to address operational inefficiencies within Nigeria’s maritime and port ecosystem.

Given the strategic role of seaports in international trade, participants maintained that improving port performance was essential to reducing the cost of imports and exports, strengthening business confidence and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.

They called on relevant regulatory authorities to strengthen oversight of port operations, review existing procedures and address avoidable bottlenecks affecting port users.

A major concern was the prevalence of arbitrary, excessive and inconsistent charges, which participants said could further increase the cost of doing business.

The summit therefore recommended transparent and predictable port charges, alongside stricter enforcement of approved tariffs to protect the interests of importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other port users.

It also called for accessible and time-bound complaint resolution mechanisms to address disputes involving terminal operators, shipping lines, importers, exporters and freight forwarders.

According to the recommendations, an effective grievance redress system would promote accountability, minimise operational disputes and strengthen confidence in the country’s transport and logistics environment.

Participants further advocated stronger institutional synergy among port authorities, regulatory agencies, shipping companies, terminal operators and other service providers.

They argued that formalised inter-agency operational frameworks would help clarify institutional responsibilities, eliminate duplication, improve information sharing and facilitate more coordinated decision-making across the transport value chain.

Digital transformation and the emergence of smart ports

Another significant area of concern was the need to accelerate digital transformation across Nigeria’s transport industry, particularly port operations and cargo management.

As global transport systems increasingly embrace automation and technology-driven processes, participants stressed that Nigeria could not afford to remain dependent on manual procedures that create delays, increase operational costs and weaken efficiency.

The summit recommended wider adoption of electronic documentation, digital cargo clearance, automated operational systems and technology-enabled cargo tracking.

It also called for sustained investment in port modernisation, including improved cargo-handling capacity, appropriate port deepening and the deployment of advanced technologies.

Among the proposed interventions were automated container stacking, GPS-enabled container tracking and sorting systems, as well as other smart-port solutions designed to improve productivity, facilitate cargo movement and strengthen operational oversight.

The recommendations underscore the growing importance of technology in determining the efficiency and competitiveness of modern maritime gateways.

However, participants emphasised that port development strategies must be guided by cargo demand, vessel requirements, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness rather than infrastructure expansion without clear economic justification.

They also urged Nigerian transport authorities and operators to adopt internationally recognised standards in infrastructure development, port management, operational safety and environmental sustainability, while ensuring that such practices reflect the country’s economic realities.

Maritime security and technology-driven surveillance

Security emerged as another critical component of the summit’s deliberations, particularly against the backdrop of the need to protect Nigeria’s maritime assets, territorial waters and strategict ransport corridors.

Participants called for stronger maritime surveillance and patrol operations through the deployment of modern monitoring technologies.

Among the specific recommendations was the use of facial-recognition cameras at appropriate port facilities and long-range drones equipped with thermal or body-heat detection capabilities.

These technologies, the summit noted, could improve security monitoring, support the identification of suspicious activities and strengthen surveillance along strategic transport corridors, including the East-West Road, as well as Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The summit also called for intensified efforts to combat maritime theft, illegal fishing, unauthorised exploitation of marine resources and other unlawful activities within the country’s territorial waters.

The recommendations reflect the growing recognition that efficient transportation infrastructure must be supported by effective security systems to protect investments, safeguard cargo and ensure the uninterrupted movement of goods.

For Nigeria, where maritime transportation remains central to international commerce and the movement of essential commodities, improved security would also help strengthen investor confidence and protect the country’s economic interests.

Economic diversification and the transport connection

Perhaps one of the broader economic issues addressed at the summit was the relationship between transport infrastructure and Nigeria’s long-standing ambition to diversify its economy beyond crude oil.

Participants stressed the importance of identifying, developing and responsibly regulating the country’s abundant mineral and other natural resources to broaden revenue sources, stimulate industrial development and create employment opportunities.

They maintained that excessive dependence on crude oil exposes the economy to external shocks and limits the country’s ability to fully exploit its other productive assets.
However, the development of alternative economic sectors would require an efficient transport system capable of moving mineral resources, agricultural produce and other non-oil commodities from production centres to processing facilities, domestic UN markets and international destinations.

This places transportation at the centre of Nigeria’s diversification strategy.
Without reliable roads, functional rail networks, efficient seaports and well-developed inland waterways, the cost of moving raw materials and finished products could undermine the competitiveness of local industries and limit the benefits of investments in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

The summit’s position therefore reinforces the need to view transport infrastructure as an economic enabler rather than an isolated sector requiring investment.

From recommendations to implementation

While the summit produced an extensive set of recommendations covering infrastructure, regulation, security, technology and economic diversification, the bigger challenge remains translating these proposals into concrete policy actions.

Nigeria’s transport sector has continued to contend with structural challenges that require sustained institutional commitment, effective regulation and long-term investment.

The call for policy consistency, inter-agency cooperation and stronger public-private sector collaboration therefore assumes particular significance.

For stakeholders, the success of the recommendations will depend not only on government commitments but also on the willingness of regulators, operators, investors and other industry players to work towards common objectives.

The second edition of the Transport Summit consequently reaffirmed the need for a coordinated and forward-looking approach to repositioning Nigeria’s transport ecosystem.

In its concluding communiqué, participants urged the Federal and State Governments, regulatory agencies, private-sector operators and other relevant stakeholders to give practical effect to the recommendations through measurable policies, institutional reforms and targeted investments.

They also called for sustained stakeholder engagement to monitor progress, address emerging challenges and ensure that Nigeria’s transport system is adequately positioned to respond to global disruptions, facilitate regional trade and support inclusive economic growth.

Ultimately, the country’s ability to build a resilient transport network will be measured not by the number of policy declarations or infrastructure proposals announced, but by the extent to which these translate into lower logistics costs, faster cargo movement, safer transport corridors, efficient ports and improved connectivity.

For an economy seeking stronger participation in regional and global trade, the message from the Lagos summit is clear: Nigeria’s transport infrastructure must become more integrated, efficient, technology-driven and responsive to the demands of a changing global economy.