Obayendo Calls for Formalisation of Nigeria’s Informal Transport Sector at CILT Conference

Prince Segun Obayendo, Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Transportation, Logistics, Innovation has urged industry stakeholders to tackle the persistent informality in Nigeria’s transport sector, describing it as a major obstacle to national development and economic prosperity.

Speaking at the 2026 CILT Nigeria National Conference and Annual General Meeting today in Abuja, themed “Transforming Nigeria’s Transport and Logistics Systems for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Infrastructure,” Obayendo highlighted how the informality defining the sector; particularly road transport and inland waterways, shapes public perception.

He called for a collective effort to formalise the sector, citing Rwanda’s pre-booking system for road transport as a model worth emulating.

“How do we transform this informality to formality? It is not something one professional body can do alone. It is not something government can do alone. We need to look into it,” he said. “In Rwanda, you pre-book your road transport, you reserve your ticket as if you are boarding an airplane. That is where to start.”

Obayendo urged the conference to provide actionable solutions, stressing that the economy is in the hands of transport professionals. “When we say we are transport, they should tremble, because the economy is in our hands, and we should be able to translate it to a better world,” he added.

Also speaking, Dr. Adelano Olamilekon, Managing Director of Zenith Carex Express and a sponsor of the conference, emphasised the role of public-private partnerships in revamping the sector.

In his goodwill address, Dr. Patrick Mugabo, FCILT, International Vice President, Africa, commended CILT Nigeria for its leadership on the continent, noting that the institute’s success serves as an inspiration for other branches. “There is no CILT Africa without Nigeria, and I meant it. CILT Rwanda wouldn’t be where it is today without CILT Nigeria,” he said.

He encouraged the Nigerian chapter to align its activities with CILT’s international bylaws and governance framework, stressing that sustainable growth must go hand-in-hand with accountability, transparency, and good governance. “The success of CILT Nigeria should be an inspiration and a resource for others, because we are only stronger together,” he added. He reaffirmed CILT Africa and CILT International’s commitment to supporting professional education, innovation, and the empowerment of young professionals and women in logistics and transport.

Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey, FCILT, FGIPS, Immediate Past International President of CILT International, also gave a goodwill address at the event. Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniels, former Governor of Ogun State, was among the distinguished guests present.

The conference featured a keynote presentation by Professor Ayo Omotayo, Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

In his welcome address, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, President and Chairman of Council, CILT Nigeria, described the conference theme as central to national development. “Transport and logistics are not simply services that sit behind the economy. They affect how the economy works and how people live,” he said. “They determine how quickly a farmer can get produce to market, how reliably a manufacturer receives materials, how affordably goods reach consumers, and how competitively Nigeria trades with the rest of the world.”

He acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, including infrastructure gaps, weak coordination across modes, high logistics costs, inconsistent regulatory expectations, security risks, and capacity limitations. He called for an integrated, efficient, and multimodal transportation system that makes roads, rail, maritime, aviation, ports, and logistics hubs work together as one national system.

The conference also featured the conferment of fellowships on the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police for their contributions to the profession and national development. “Fellowship is not merely an honour. It is an invitation to greater responsibility,” Oyeyemi said.

The event brought together policymakers, regulators, investors, operators, academics, technology innovators, development partners, and industry leaders from across Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. International delegates from Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda attended, along with representatives of 17 professional bodies and the service chiefs.

“No single institution, agency, or sector can deliver the transformation Nigeria needs. It will take all of us, government, industry, academia, professional bodies, development partners, and citizens; working with purpose and a clear commitment to the public good,” Oyeyemi said. “May our discussions be open and productive. May they lead to practical actions in the months ahead.”

By Olusemire Jegede