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A coalition of transport professionals under the banner Transporters for Tinubu (TFT) 2027 has officially launched a nationwide mobilization movement in Abuja, declaring their commitment to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continuity agenda and drive a new wave of reforms and investment in Nigeria’s transport sector.

Speaking at a press briefing themed “Transporting Nigeria Forward, Together,” the Convener of the group, Prince Dr. Segun Obayendo, said the initiative was “born out of one conviction: when transport moves, Nigeria moves.”

Obayendo, a prominent transport stakeholder and entrepreneur, described the movement as a platform to “bring together over two million transporters nationwide to support and strengthen the vision of renewed infrastructure, better roads, safer journeys, and dignified work for all Nigerians in the transport industry.”

He emphasised that transporters form the “heartbeat of the nation’s economy,” lamenting that “too often, our struggles are ignored.” According to him, “The truth is plain: if transport stops, the nation stops.”

‘Nigeria Cannot Rise Faster Than Its Transport System’

In a detailed analysis of the sector’s challenges, Obayendo painted a sobering picture: “Poor road conditions remain one of the biggest causes of road crashes in Nigeria. The Federal Road Safety Corps reported over 5,421 deaths in 2024 — that is more than 13 Nigerians dying every day on our highways.”

He also cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that “transport fares rose by about 49% between January 2023 and 2024,” linking the spike directly to rising inflation and the cost of living.

On other pressing issues, Obayendo decried the neglect of the rail and water transport systems, revealing that “over 90% of goods and passengers in Nigeria still move by road,” which he said “puts immense pressure on our highways and increases accident risks.”

Highlighting the alarming state of inland waterways safety, he disclosed that “boat accidents claimed over 326 lives in 2024 alone, an 8.67% increase from 2023,” attributing the tragedies to “overcrowding, lack of life jackets, and unregistered vessels.”

The TFT Convener further expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s railway system, describing it as “grossly inadequate.” He lamented that “with only 3,505 km of mostly colonial-era Cape gauge lines and 669 km of standard gauge tracks serving over 200 million people, we are far behind where we should be.”

On energy transportation and security, Obayendo condemned the persistence of oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which he said cost the nation between “200,000 and 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily.”

He declared emphatically: “Nigeria cannot rise faster than its transport system. If we fix transport, we fix half of our economic challenges.”

A Movement for Reform, Not Just Politics

Obayendo was quick to clarify that Transporters for Tinubu 2027 was “not a political club, but a people’s movement.” He said the group’s mission was “to make sure that the sector gets the attention, reforms, and investment it deserves,” while pledging to mobilize two million active members across the country — from “taxi unions to truck associations, from boat operators to park managers.”

He noted that the Tinubu administration had taken “encouraging steps” in infrastructure renewal, citing the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway completion, the revival of the Abuja–Kaduna and Warri–Itakpe rail lines, and the modernization of ports.

“Our vision is clear,” he declared. “We want safer roads, modern parks and terminals, professional transporters, efficient systems, and a digital transport future where technology secures and manages our transport operations nationwide.”

He concluded his remarks with a rousing call to unity:
“Let’s show that transporters are not just voters; we are builders of the nation’s future. Let’s be remembered as the generation of transporters who stood up, not to complain, but to build.”

‘We Cannot Afford to Go Backward’ — Uwaegbute

Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs. Chinwe Uwaegbute, National Secretary of the Transporters for Tinubu 2027 Support Group, reaffirmed the group’s readiness to mobilize and educate transporters across all 774 local government areas of the country.

She said the movement’s emergence was rooted in “a profound sense of purpose and unity,” representing a sector that “directly and indirectly engages over 12 million Nigerians and serves as the lifeline of our national economy.”

According to Uwaegbute, “We have come together under one umbrella because we have seen, felt, and believed in the transformative impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on Nigeria’s transport sector.”

She listed key achievements under the administration, including the “revitalization of railway systems like the Lagos–Ibadan and coastal rail projects, the promotion of CNG-powered transport, and massive road infrastructure investments nationwide.”

Uwaegbute also highlighted ongoing aviation reforms, noting the “Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of the NAMA headquarters and the concession of Port Harcourt airport.”

“The government has demonstrated that transportation is not an afterthought, but a key pillar of national development,” she said, adding that “we have witnessed firsthand the commitment to building not just roads and rails, but a modern, integrated, and sustainable transport ecosystem that connects people, powers commerce, and creates opportunities for millions.”

A Call for Continuity and Collective Action

The TFT National Secretary underscored the importance of continuity in governance, asserting that “development is a journey, not a sprint.”

She warned: “We cannot afford to go backward. We cannot abandon the progress we have collectively begun. We cannot leave these foundational projects and policies in the hands of those who do not understand the language of development that this government speaks fluently.”

Describing the group as “a mission-driven organization with functional structures in all 36 states and the FCT,” Uwaegbute said TFT 2027 would deploy radio, social media, town halls, and documentaries to tell “the story of progress.”

“To every transporter, union leader, transport operator, and logistics professional: this is your movement. This is your voice. This is your future,” she declared passionately.

She concluded with a rallying message: “Let us go forth from this day not as passengers, but as drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda. Let it be said that when history called, transporters stood up, spoke out, and moved Nigeria forward.”

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