From left: Co-chairperson, Committee on Vehicle Transit Area, Hajia Rabi Ahmed, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and the consultant to the project, John Wajilda during the inauguration of the committee in Yola recently.

The Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri and the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC Hon. Emmanuel Jime, have set up a joint committee to aid the development of Vehicle Transit Areas VTAs and the Border Information Centre BIC. While the VTA is to be located at Ngurore near Yola the state capital, the BIC is to be cited at Sahuda near the border area in Mubi also in the state

Recall that the NSC and the Adamawa State Government, had previously met in Abuja where it was resolved that a 10- member joint committee would be inaugurated to fast track the development of these transport infrastructure projects. The membership of the committee is drawn from the host state government and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. 

Speaking at the official inauguration of the Technical Committee, the NSC boss maintained that the agency is committed to facilitating the development of transport infrastructure in the country.  

He also disclosed that Shippers’ Council is working towards the actualisation of modern VTAs in Nigeria. He expressed optimism that the joint technical committee will make concerted efforts to see to the realisation of the projects in the state.

“Adamawa State is strategically positioned for the establishment of the VTAs and Border Information Centres”, he said.

Governor Fintiri had while speaking at the occasion, stated that the development of VTAs at Ngurore and Sahuda at the border area as well as the BIC in Mubi topped discussions when officials of the government and Shippers Council met in Abuja recently. He lauded NSC boss for his commitment towards the development of the projects in the state.

He said: “The VTAs and BIC will not serve the Adamawa State alone but also neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic. We are optimistic that the development of Vehicle Transit Areas will address indiscriminate parking of trucks on roads in the state”.

Responding to concerns about insecurity, the governor said that the state has put in place measures which have resulted in the reduction of crimes to barest minimum.

The co-chairperson, who represents the Adamawa State Government on the joint committee, Hajia Rabi Ahmad said that Adamawa State will ensure the actualisation of the projects in the State.

Meanwhile, representative of the NSC and co -chairman of the committee, Phillip Eduwa, appreciated the Adamawa State Government for the pivotal role it has played towards the development of Vehicle Transit Areas and Border Information Centre in the state.

Eduwa maintained that NSC as facilitator of the projects will also play its role towards the realisation of the VTAs and BICs in Adamawa state. He called on the committee to enlighten the stakeholders to get their buy – in for the proposed projects.

The terms of reference of the Implementation committee include collaborate with the relevant  agencies such as Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission ICRC to obtain all the  necessary  guidelines  for the  development  of VTAs in line with standard specifications  and in compliance with international  best practices, to identify  all the  essential  requirements for execution of VTAs from inception to operational level and to also collaborate with land owners/host communities in order  to create adequate  sensitisation and secure their  buy-in and  ensure  successful take-off of the  projects.