26th September, 2013
Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State Commissioner for Transport on Thursday, called for the establishment of a national agency to supervise Logistics and Supply Chain Management in the country.
Opeifa made the call at the second Induction Ceremony and Fellowship Investiture of the African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) in Lagos.
He said that the practice in the developed world was that an agency would oversee logistics and supply chain management as a sector on its own.
The commissioner said that proper logistics management would go a long way in reducing the cost of transportation and price of foodstuff and other items.
“In most developed countries, logistics and supply chain management is a sector on its own, overseen by a separate agency.
“The Ministry of Transport is not enough to oversee logistics in this country as it is now.
“The government at all levels needs to pay greater attention to the sector than ever before.
“It is to this end that the National Council on Transport will be hosted in Lagos between 4 November and 8 November,” he said.
According to him, this time around, the private sector will be in charge of the whole event and stakeholders will come out with communique at the end of the meeting.
Opeifa said that the council meeting would have participants from transport and logistics associations and commissioners of transport from all states of the federation.
The commissioner also called on more tertiary institutions in the country to introduce logistics as a course at the basic, diploma and degree levels.
According to him, only a few universities are offering transport, logistics, or supply chain management as a course at such levels because they lacked the facilities.
He also solicited the assistance of the public to provide suggestions on ways to ease traffic congestion within the state.
The commissioner was given an award of excellence by the African Centre for Supply Chain for his efforts in promoting growth and innovation of logistics and transport in the state.