The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr Umar Jibrin, said the authority was committed to providing the infrastructure that would ensure accessible and sustainable transport system in the country.
Jibrin said this on Tuesday at the on-going Africa Sustainable Urban Mobility Course organised in collaboration with various transport growth initiatives in Abuja.
Jibrin was represented by Mrs Zaliha’u Ahmed, Director, Urban and Regional Planning, FCDA.
The theme of the programme is, “Building the Capacity of Stakeholders Towards Urban Mobility Reform in Africa”.
According to Jibrin, FCDA decided to work with the organisers of the programme as their content aligned with its vision for a sustainable capital city.
He said the authority was collaborating with other relevant stakeholders to upgrade public transport system across the city.
He added that plans were also underway to expand and clear the pedestrian workways including elevation of walkways.
“No doubt we look forward to providing the infrastructure that makes cycling safe as these are key to the accessibility and sustainability of our transport system in Abuja.
”I urge you all to pay careful attention to the training content and experts and ensure that your departure should mean not only added value to your knowledge but the work you do in your various cities.
“On our part, we shall ensure the knowledge acquired is expeditiously put to use in the ongoing and future development of Abuja urban mobility,” Jibrin said.
According to him, Africa is confronted with enormous challenges limiting its pace of development such as poverty, disease, infrastructure deficit among others.
Jibrin said transportation as a major enabler of socio-political and economic development required continuous innovations to cope with the dynamics of the changing world.
He said it was critical to develop appropriate human resources expertise that would be adequate to meet the need.
The executive secretary, however, commended the organisers of the training for the foresight to put Africa on the map of continents whose mobility systems were developing sustainably.
Also speaking, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu, said the training would ensure strategies to advance transportation on the continent were put in place.
”As we engage in this discussion, we must not be afraid to think beyond our horizon, as it is through this, innovations and progress will be achieved,” Aliyu said.
NAN reports that the course was attended by government representatives, experts, stakeholders and professionals in the transport sector in the continent.
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