The Federal Ministry of Transportation has inaugurated the Project Implementation Committee for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, in a major step towards establishing a centralised, interoperable, and real-time transport data system for Nigeria.
The inauguration took place following the recent approval of the Smart National Transport Databank (SNTDB), a digital transport intelligence platform for Nigeria, by the Federal Executive Council. The project is being spearheaded by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT).
Speaking at the inaugural meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Funsho Adebiyi, noted that the initiative is aimed at addressing longstanding gaps in transport data collection, coordination, and accessibility, while strengthening evidence-based planning and investment across the sector.
The Permanent Secretary recalled that the SNTDB was approved at the 12th National Council on Transportation in 2012, with the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) mandated to establish the databank under the ministry’s supervision.
He further disclosed that the project has received Federal Executive Council approval for implementation under a 20-year Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) PPP concession awarded to Asia-Arab Investment Nigeria Limited.
The newly inaugurated committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, NITT, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Works, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the concessionaire, among others.
Its mandate includes overseeing implementation of the project in line with the Concession Agreement, approved Full Business Case, and applicable laws; monitoring milestones and performance; coordinating participating MDAs; managing implementation challenges and risks; ensuring financial and governance accountability; and submitting periodic progress reports.
In a project briefing, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITT, Dr Bayero Salih Farah, FCILT, described the SNTDB as a national transport intelligence infrastructure designed to support planning, regulation, safety, security, infrastructure development, and evidence-based decision-making.
He outlined key components of the project, including at least 250 solar-powered intelligent gantries equipped with RFID and ANPR technologies; Traffic Management Centres in the 36 states and the FCT; a Main Data Centre; an Electronic Tagging (E-Tag) ecosystem; database integration; real-time analytics; and cybersecurity systems, to be implemented in phases.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing the policy and institutional leadership required for the successful delivery of the project, while NITT will oversee contract management and the protection of the government’s interests.
He said the ministry remains committed to delivering a functional, secure, and nationally integrated transport intelligence system that will provide measurable value to government, transport operators, and the Nigerian public.
(The Sun)
