In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision - dalai lama

Nigeria, others to drive continent’s transport, logistics sector

NIGERIA, with some key African countries, could fast track the growth of the continent’s transport infrastructure by more than three per cent on a yearly basis.
 PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC), in a report released at the weekend, also singled out transport and logistics as the industry to watch, as regional economies seek to grow trade and ease dependence on external assistance.
 The PwC report titled: “Africa gearing up: Future prospects in Africa for the transportation & logistics industry”, stated that a new understanding in Africa that to attract investors and facilitate growth of business, even for the locals, transport and logistics industry, must be well developed, and fast.
  According to the report, countries like South Africa, Nigeria and few others have been growing their transport sector rapidly in line with the global best practices.
  “Africa probably isn’t the best destination for companies, just looking for quick revenue boosts. The continent needs better transport infrastructure, more connectivity across borders and an improved business environment to reach its potential,” the report said.
 The report said that bringing infrastructure up in countries like Kenya to the level of the region’s middle income countries, like Egypt and Nigeria, could boost yearly growth by more than three per centage points.
  This perhaps explained why Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda last year, jointly launched key infrastructure projects to speed up movement of goods across the region.
  Last year, the three countries launched a $13.8 billion standard gauge railway line that will run from Kenya to Rwanda through Uganda after commissioning expansion of Mombasa port.
  The three countries formed the core of the transnational projects initiated by the some East African Community (EAC) member countries in 2013, as each member state focuses on improving home transport system to increase business competitiveness.
  An EAC inter governmental study released last year, estimated that it would cost the member states $3.4 billion over the next four years to finance 43 critical infrastructure projects to bridge the gap.