Read Experts Opinion On The Propose Transport University In Nigeria

Last week, the minister of transportation, Rt Hon. Rotimi Ameachi hinted that the university of transportation will take off in Duara, Kastina State comes September 2019. Ever since the news broke, many stakeholders, gurus in the transport business has been reacting to this.

Among the gurus in the field is the MD/CEO of Lagos Bus Services Limited, Mr. Seyi Osiyemi who is a Public Transport/Urban Mobility Expert. According to the post on his LinkedIn page, he wrote...

So it appears that the FG is really serious about the establishment of a new ‘Transport University’ in Nigeria. The first time I heard about this initiative, I dismissed it as a joke taken too far.

But what’s the purpose of a transport university, when we have hundreds of federal owned tertiary institutions that are struggling to keep their classrooms open due to poor funding?

To the best of my understanding, it seems that the transport university was part of the deal with the Chinese for the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Kano Rail line, as a mechanism for knowledge transfer.

Whilst it’s important that we need to develop local skills and competence to manage our railway infrastructure, which is key to our economic development, however, this can be achieved without creating a ‘transport university’.

Aside from the existing federal universities of technology that offer transport courses, that can be improved, we also have the National Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria.

It’s ironic that the NITT, which was established in 1986, was actually conceived as a ‘Railway Training Institute’. So why can’t the NITT be upgraded to a full university status?

I’m really struggling to see the rational behind the initiative.

Another reader name Akinyele Makinwa wrote...

Same question I asked my very self when I read it this morning.  I struggle with so many WHY within me. I just drop the thought since I have no answer to this. I want to say the fund to establish the University of Transportation in Daura would have been channel into Ajaokuta Steel Company or construction of good roads in Nigeria. More than 50 Universities are offering Courses related to Transportation both at 1st degree and postgraduate level. My Opinion anyway.

Also, Adedeji Aremu Ph.D. has this to say...

By definition, a University is an assembly of academics and students for the proliferation of knowledge in society. A university is never the acquisition of depreciating assets. It is not wise to establish another university on this matter.  Why not offer scholarships to students to study transport related courses and also initiate research projects that address the transport needs of the country. Starting a transport University despite the many universities in Nigeria doing transport course

Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe has this to say...

Nigeria to start Transport University, Daura this September, according to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. How I wish they would stop this escalating bureaucracy and put that money in the departments of Transport Management in FUT Minna, FUT Yola (MAUT), FUT Bauchi (ATBU), FUTO, and FUTA. These five universities have solid transportation management programs that can be expanded. A new university means new VC, bursar, etc and just colossal inefficiency.