The Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics (CILT) Nigeria has called for an integrated system and logistics infrastructure in which road, rail, aviation, maritime transport, inland waterways, ports, terminals and logistics hubs, among others, reinforce one another for better opportunities.
Aligned with this, the institute stressed that Nigeria also needs “infrastructure that can withstand climate risks, institutions that coordinate effectively, technology that improves visibility and accountability, and a skilled workforce that can manage a rapidly changing industry.”
Billed to hold from Wednesday, October 21, to Friday, October 23, 2026, at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, this year’s theme is: “Transforming Nigeria’s Transport and Logistics Systems for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Infrastructure.”
Unveiling these positions at a news conference in Lagos ahead of the CILT 2026 National Conference, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee (CPC), Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, stressed the imperative of a functional and efficient transport and logistics system.
According to Oyesiku, whose address was presented by the Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University, Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, noted that “transport determines whether a worker reaches the workplace safely and on time.”
Among other attributes, it determines “whether a farmer’s produce reaches the market before it spoils; whether manufacturers can obtain inputs and distribute finished goods competitively; whether our ports and borders facilitate trade; and whether businesses can create jobs across the country.”
Against this background, he argued that transport and logistics are not merely sectoral concerns but “the circulation system of the national economy.”
Consequently, “When that system is fragmented, unsafe, costly, or unreliable, every household and enterprise pays the price. When it works efficiently, the benefits spread through lower costs, stronger productivity, wider market access, safer journeys, and better opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Oyesiku said the 2026 conference has been deliberately structured as a solutions-focused gathering, packaged to bring policymakers into direct conversation with regulators, operators, investors, academics, technology providers, development partners, students, and young professionals.
According to him, the purpose is to identify priorities, clarify responsibilities, and build partnerships that can move credible ideas towards implementation.
To this end, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, will lead the keynote discourse, while the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, will be the special guest of honour.
Expected at the conference are ministers and other policymakers, state governments, regulatory and infrastructure agencies, transport and logistics operators, captains of industry, academics and development partners, professional bodies and investors, among others.
CILT said their participation will enrich a conversation that must connect national strategy with practical delivery at federal, state, and industry levels. It added that, across six major panel sessions, the conference will address sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, digital transformation and smart logistics.
Others include integrated multimodal connectivity; governance, policy reform, and infrastructure financing; human-capital development and professional excellence; and inclusive mobility and logistics for national development.
Oyesiku added that the NEXT GEN Hour will give students and young professionals a visible platform for mentoring, innovation, and leadership development, while the conference dinner and awards will recognise excellence, and the technical field tour will connect deliberations with operational realities.
The conference, he said, will conclude with a communiqué that captures the priority recommendations and commitments from the sessions.
In the meantime, the conference is expected to connect passenger and freight transport across road, rail, air, maritime, and inland-waterway modes with logistics, supply-chain management, infrastructure, technology, safety, sustainability, and professional standards.
Also, discussions will focus on implementable reforms, investable priorities, institutional coordination, and partnerships that can deliver measurable results, while providing an opportunity for a high-value stakeholder platform.
Similarly, young professionals and students will participate as innovators and future leaders of the sector, with participants gaining insights into the forces reshaping mobility, freight, and supply chains; engaging directly with senior policymakers and industry leaders; and developing strategic professional and business relationships, among others.
