The Federal Executive Council has approved the establishment of a Smart National Transport Databank project aimed at transforming the collection, management and analysis of transportation and mobility data across Nigeria.
The project, proposed by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, is expected to provide government agencies and stakeholders with real-time transport intelligence to improve planning, security, safety management and infrastructure development nationwide.
The Smart National Transport Databank, also known as SNTDB, is designed as a comprehensive digital intelligence platform capable of integrating, processing, analysing, storing and disseminating transportation data from different parts of the country.
According to officials of the institute, the platform will support evidence-based policymaking by providing accurate and up-to-date information on transport activities, passenger movement, traffic patterns, logistics operations and mobility trends.
The approval by the Federal Executive Council marks a major step in the government’s efforts to modernise the transportation sector and strengthen the use of digital technology in national planning and development.
Experts say the initiative could significantly improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s transport systems by enabling authorities to make informed decisions based on reliable data rather than estimates and fragmented records.
The databank is also expected to assist in identifying transportation gaps, monitoring infrastructure performance and improving coordination among agencies operating in the sector.
Officials explained that the project would support more efficient mobility planning by helping policymakers understand travel behaviour, congestion patterns and transportation demands in both urban and rural communities.
Security agencies are also expected to benefit from the system through improved access to transport-related intelligence that could assist in monitoring suspicious movements, tracking logistics activities and strengthening emergency response mechanisms.
The project is further expected to enhance road safety management by generating data that can help identify accident-prone areas, monitor compliance with traffic regulations and improve transportation risk assessments.
According to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, the initiative will be implemented through a Public, Private Partnership arrangement using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer model.
Under the arrangement, Asia-Arab Investment Nigeria Limited will serve as the private sector proponent responsible for financing, developing and operating the system for an agreed period before eventual transfer to the government.
The DBFOT model is commonly used for major infrastructure projects because it allows governments to leverage private sector expertise and funding while reducing immediate public financial burdens.
Stakeholders believe the adoption of the model could accelerate the implementation of the project and ensure the deployment of advanced technological systems required for large-scale data management.
Transportation analysts have long argued that the absence of a centralised and reliable transport database has limited effective planning and policy coordination in Nigeria.
Many government agencies and operators currently rely on fragmented records, manual processes and outdated data collection systems, making it difficult to accurately assess transportation needs and trends across the country.
The proposed databank is expected to address these challenges by creating a unified system capable of aggregating information from multiple transportation modes, including road, rail, air and maritime operations.
Industry observers say the platform could also support economic planning by helping authorities measure the contribution of transportation activities to national productivity and trade.
In addition, logistics operators, researchers and investors may benefit from improved access to transportation statistics and analytical tools that can guide business decisions and investment strategies.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts by the Federal Government to digitise critical sectors of the economy and improve public sector efficiency through technology-driven solutions.
Experts have however stressed that the success of the project will depend on effective implementation, inter-agency collaboration, data protection safeguards and sustained investment in digital infrastructure.
They also emphasised the need for strong regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability and proper management of sensitive transportation data.
If successfully implemented, the Smart National Transport Databank could become one of the country’s most important digital infrastructure projects, providing Nigeria with a modern system for transportation intelligence, planning and mobility management.
