FEC approves national smart transport databank project

The Federal Executive Council has approved the Smart National Transport Databank Project of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, in what the institute described as a major step toward modernising Nigeria’s transport system.

According to a statement issued by the institute on Sunday, the project, which is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, is aimed at building “a smart, technology-driven, secure, and data-centric transportation ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable economic growth, national planning, security enhancement, and efficient mobility management.”

The institute said the approval marked “a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s transport modernisation agenda” and reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to deploying intelligent transport systems across the country.

It added that the milestone was achieved under the leadership of the Director-General and Chief Executive of NITT, Bayero Salih Farah, whose “dedication, institutional coordination, stakeholder engagements, and persistent drive played a critical role in the successful actualisation of the Project.”

According to the statement, the Smart National Transport Databank Project is a digital transport intelligence platform designed to “collect, integrate, process, analyse, store, and disseminate real-time transport and mobility data across Nigeria.”

The institute noted that the platform would support evidence-based policymaking, transport planning, infrastructure investment, safety management, security operations, and operational efficiency.

It disclosed that the project would be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement using the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer model in collaboration with Asia-Arab Investment Nigeria Limited as the private proponent.

The statement listed key components of the project to include the deployment of 250 solar-powered smart gantries nationwide, establishment of Traffic Management Centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, development of a centralised National Data Centre, and deployment of RFID-enabled Smart E-Tag technology.

The institute further stated that the project is expected to improve transport planning and policy formulation, enhance road safety and national security, enable real-time traffic monitoring and automated enforcement, improve revenue assurance, reduce leakages, strengthen inter-agency coordination and data integration, and create jobs.

It added that the approval by the FEC “marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s transportation development journey and positions the country among forward-looking nations leveraging intelligent transport systems and digital infrastructure for national development.”

The institute appreciated the support of the Presidency, the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, regulatory agencies, collaborating institutions, development partners, and stakeholders for their contributions toward the project’s approval.

It also called on stakeholders, state governments, transport operators, development partners, private sector participants, and the public to support the implementation of the project for the advancement of the transport sector and the national economy.