CILT Summit: Usoro Calls for Strict Adherence to Transport Cadre Policy

The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, has issued a compelling call to the Federal Government, urging that the newly created Transport Officer Cadre be implemented with qualified logistics and transport professionals.

Speaking at the 2025 CILT Nigeria Annual Conference in Lagos, Usoro acknowledged the policy as a commendable step but criticized its execution, noting that the roles are frequently assigned to engineers and administrators instead of dedicated transport experts. She emphasized that correcting this imbalance is crucial to bolstering the national logistics framework and inspiring confidence among transport graduates.

Usoro’s address also served as a review of her tenure, highlighting a period of significant institutional transformation under the “Reform and Transform CILT Nigeria” agenda. She reported extraordinary financial and membership growth, with revenue increasing by over 242 percent and liquid assets rising from ₦17 million to ₦123 million between 2021 and 2025. Membership numbers also saw a substantial surge, growing from 169 new members in 2021 to more than 600 in 2025.

This growth was underpinned by strategic partnerships with institutions like the Maritime Academy of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army College of Logistics, profound governance reforms that regularized the Institute’s corporate status, and a ongoing digital transformation initiative that will soon see the deployment of an Enterprise Resource Planning system.

The conference, which focused on innovation and sustainability, featured a keynote by Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, who outlined critical challenges in the shipping industry. The event culminated in the presentation of the CILT Distinguished Leadership Award to the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. The Minister, represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, highlighted the achievement of zero piracy incidents in three years as a landmark accomplishment for the nation’s maritime sector.