By Olatunji Peter 

The Commander General/CEO, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency TRACE, Cdr 'Seni Ogunyemi and the Vice-Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, were among others who condemned increasing rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, through nonchalant attitude of road users. 

The speakers who x-rayed the twin issues of security and safety in the transportation sector on Wednesday during LASU-NACOLM Transport and Logistics Conference and Induction 2025, include the National President, Chartered Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria, CIOTA, Prince Segun Obayendo, and Prof. Samuel Odewunmi of School of Transport and Logistics, LASU. 

The event held inside Hall 1, School of Transport and Logistics, LASU was organised jointly by LASU and the Nigeria Army College of Logistics and Management, NACOLM, with the theme: 'Safety and Security in the Transportation Sector: The way forward.'

Speaking as one of the guests at the programme, Cdr 'Seni Ogunyemi, who is also the Zonal Coordinator, South West zone, CIOTA, noted that the twin issues of safety and security in the transportation sector cannot be over-emphasised, adding that safety on the road begins with obeying traffic rules.

He frowned at overloading, stressing that some articulated vehicle owners and drivers indulged in flouting the rules on tonnage of goods required to be carried by their vehicles.

Cdr 'Seni Ogunyemi who was represented by the Area Commander, Ogun West, TRACE and Chairman, Ogun State chapter of CIOTA, Cdr Adekunle Ajibade, who also doubles as Ogun State Chairman of CIOTA, said such vehicles expected to carry 30 tonnes, ended up carrying between 60 tonnes and 90 tonnes.

He explained that this put unnecessary pressure on the roads surface thus ultimately leading to their collapse.

He said, "What we experience concerning our roads is systemic failure. There is a rule that says no articulated vehicles that should carrying more than 30 tonnes of goods, but you see some.of them carrying between 60 tonnes and 90 tonnes.

"This puts undue pressure on the road and the road dies like human beings, due to these excessive loads."

He equally rooted for inter-agency collaborations among the road safety and security agencies, stressing that such synergy promotes healthy rivalry and efficiency.

On her part, the Vice-Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello who was represented by Prof. Charles Asenime, Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, in her welcome address, commended CIOTA for its pursuit of professionalism in the transport business.

She said the institution was open to collaborating with CIOTA in the area of training of students of School of Transport and Logistics in achieving professionalism and advancing their career in the transport sector.

One of the guest speakers, Prof. Samuel Odewunmi, who reiterated that transportation is the lifeblood of the economy, however lamented that the National Transport Policy has remained in limbo since 1993 unimplemented.

He noted that across all modes of transportation, "there is absence of comprehensive data, poor enforcement, inadequate funding and fragmented governance make strategic planning a Herculean task."

On ensuring safety on the rail lines, he advised the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, to incorporate the farmers along the routes the trains travel into its system, "give them low cost phones and tell them to report any threats they see along the routes to the dedicated lines of NRC. That way insecurity and sabotage will be nipped in the bud."

Prince Segun Obayendo, noted that there is the need to change everything about transportation, adding that CIOTA was ready to collaborate with organisations, institutions and sub nationals to ensure safety and security in the nation's transportation sector.

Another guest speaker, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) who talked more about safety and security in the aviation sector, listed the layers of security in that sector to include Intelligence, Passenger pre-screening, Airport Access Control, Passenger checkpoint screening, passenger checked baggage screening, Cargo screening, and On-boarding Security."

The Commandant, Nigeria Army College of Logistics and Management,NACOLM, Major General Wisdom Etuk commended CIOTA and stated that safety and regulatory compliance are key.

He advised stakeholders to prioritise safety by invest in modern technology to ensure sustainability in transportation sector.

Other highlights of the event were the induction of members and fellows into CIOTA, and new members included scores of students of School of Transport and Logistics, LASU and presentation of awards to deserving personalities.