Nigeria appealed to the World Bank for financing transport sector in four key areas, according a document submitted to the bank's regional office here at the weekend.

The document prepared by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Transport requires the bank to finance it in capacity building, inter-modal connections, development of river ports, and interlink with neighboring countries in the West African sub-region.

The document said "transport sector is currently undergoing a reform program to enhance its performance," adding that the implementation of reform had thrown up challenges, for which the nation required the World Bank's financial and technical support.

Nigerian's implementation of the reforms has already led to the privatization of port facilities, railway infrastructure, and re- organization of the inland waterways.

The ministry said it needed to combat the challenges through computer training and skill acquisition for senior staff, secretaries and typists.

"It is expected that at the end of the training our officers will be equipped for the challenges of interpreting international phenomena in the transportation industry," the document said.

According to the document, the bank is expected to assist in monitoring, coordinating and supervising the transport industry to bring its operation at par with best practices in the world.

As part of the plan to transform the sector, Nigeria plans to build new rail and bus links to other parts of the country.

Nigeria would ensure that international airports, key stadia and major markets in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt are linked to allow a seamless transition from one mode of transportation to the other.

In order to achieve the objective, the ministry said "serious consideration" would be given to the road mode, with massive deployment of modern and high capacity buses.

"The government is also kick-starting the project of dredging the Lower River Niger, Oguta Lake, Lagos, Bonny and Calabar channels along side the construction of six river ports at Baro, Lokoja, Onitsha, Oguta, Idah and Okirika," it said.

The document also harped on the need to activate the Trans-West African rail and road network to stimulate socio-economic integration in the sub-region.

"We believe that, for now, the four suggested identified areas of intervention are already a mouthful for the donor and development partners," the ministry noted.

It, however, stated that consideration could also be given to their peripheral and complementary areas in the sector to ensure the success of the ongoing reform.

Nigeria's aviation ministry recently secured a grant of 2.1 billion nairas (about 15 million U.S. dollars) from the World Bank as intervention funds to update facilities in the aviation industry.

Source: Xinhua