Uche Cecil Izuora
The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP),has successfully hosted its conference themed “Leadership Insights with Fola Tinubu: Driving Growth through Strategic Partnership,”.
The conference convened a diverse group of stakeholders, journalists, and thought leaders from both the maritime and transport industries.
Mr. Fola Tinubu, Managing Director of Primero Transport Services Limited, a leading innovator in Nigeria’s urban transportation sector, offered thought provoking insights towards enhancing the country’s transportation industry.
As Nigeria’s transportation landscape continues to evolve, the session explored how visionary leadership and cross-sector partnerships can serve as catalysts for sustainable growth and operational excellence.
The dialogue was positioned against the backdrop of Lagos State’s expanding urban transit infrastructure, where Primero plays a pivotal role in transforming public mobility.
The meeting opened with warm remarks from CONMMEP leadership, emphasizing the importance of bridging conversations between maritime and land transport sectors to create integrated logistics solutions. Mr. Tinubu, who founded Primero Transport Services Ltd in response to Lagos State Government’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) initiative, shared his leadership experiences driving one of Nigeria’s most successful urban transit systems.
He stressed the crucial role strategic partnerships play in overcoming Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges and navigating its complex regulatory environment. According to Mr. Tinubu, growth within the transport sector is inseparable from collaborative efforts between government entities, private operators, and other key stakeholders. He also highlighted the media’s influential role in shaping public understanding and governmental policies that support sector development.
During his address, Mr. Tinubu detailed Primero’s journey from inception, when the company won a competitive Lagos State contract to operate a fleet of 434 buses, expanding to plans for 800 buses and beyond—to becoming a vital mode of transport for over 150,000 daily commuters. He attributed success to obtaining critical financial backing from Sterling Bank and a commitment to innovation, including fuel storage facilities, technology-driven control rooms, and efficient route management.
The interactive dialogue covered leadership resilience, innovative solutions in public transportation, and opportunities for synergy between maritime logistics and urban mobility systems, underscoring how multi-sector cooperation can ease congestion, reduce emissions, and boost economic productivity across Nigeria’s major cities.
Tinubu called for sustained, transparent cooperation among sectors and visionary leadership to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s transportation and maritime industries. His remarks reinforced the necessity of an integrated approach, stating that the future of Nigeria’s transport and maritime growth depends on collaboration, transparency, and strategic foresight