By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has called on the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) to complete the construction of its abandoned training centre in Effuruntor, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, who represents Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Waive recalled that the NITT was established in 1986 by Decree No. 6, now Cap N116 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to provide corporate leadership, strategic management, training, research, advisory services, transport intelligence, monitoring, and technology development to meet the country’s growing transportation needs.
He noted that the institute has, since its inception, trained senior and middle-level manpower in the transport and logistics sector, contributing significantly to improving safety and efficiency in Nigeria’s transportation system.
According to him, the NITT had in recent years expanded its reach by establishing training centres across the six geopolitical zones to enhance access to its programmes and reduce the frequency of transport-related accidents. The centres were proposed for Katsina, Kano, Borno, Benue, Ekiti, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Delta States.
Waive, however, expressed concern that while all other centres are currently operational, the one in Effuruntor, Delta State — which is already 50 percent completed — has been abandoned for years.
He warned that the continued neglect of the Effuruntor Centre not only represents a waste of public funds but also denies the South-South region the benefits of advanced training in transport technology and logistics.
The lawmaker explained that the Effuruntor Centre holds immense strategic importance due to its proximity to key oil and gas institutions such as the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), both located in Delta State.
He disclosed that FUPRE had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NITT to utilize the Effuruntor Centre for pipeline transportation training critical to the oil and gas industry.
“Institutions and oil companies in the area are waiting for the takeoff of the Effuruntor Centre because of its strategic location,” Waive stated, adding that the delay in completing the project was stalling vital collaboration opportunities that could enhance Nigeria’s oil and gas transportation infrastructure.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology to immediately complete, equip, and operationalize the Effuruntor Centre.
