By Ngozi Nwankwo
Federal Ministry of Transportation has inaugurated a Project Implementation Committee to oversee the Public-Private Partnership, PPP, project for the Smart National Transport Databank, SNTDB.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, inaugurated the committee at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.
The SNTDB is a digital transport intelligence platform recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and is to be implemented by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT.
“This initiative is aimed at addressing the longstanding gaps in transport data collection, coordination and accessibility, while strengthening evidence-based planning and investment across the sector,” said Adebiyi.
He recalled that the databank was first approved at the 12th National Council on Transportation in 2012, with NITT mandated to establish it under the Ministry’s supervision.
According to him, FEC has approved the project for implementation under a 20-year Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer, DBFOT, PPP concession to Asia-Arab Investment Nigeria Limited.
The 11-member committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, comprises representatives of the Ministry of Transportation, NITT, Federal Road Safety Corps, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Works, Office of the National Security Adviser and the concessionaire.
Its mandate includes monitoring implementation in line with the concession agreement and approved Full Business Case, tracking milestones, coordinating MDAs, managing risks, ensuring financial accountability and submitting periodic progress reports.
Briefing the committee, the Director-General of NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, described the SNTDB as national transport intelligence infrastructure to support planning, regulation, safety, security and decision-making.
He said key components include at least 250 solar-powered intelligent gantries with RFID and ANPR technology, Traffic Management Centres in the 36 states and FCT, a main data centre, an electronic tagging, E-Tag, ecosystem, database integration, real-time analytics and cybersecurity systems. The project will be implemented in phases.
The Ministry said it will provide policy and institutional leadership for the project, while NITT will handle contract management and safeguard government interests.
The Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Osima Gift Seddon, said the Ministry remains committed to delivering a functional and secure transport intelligence system that will provide value to government, operators and the public.
