By Uche Nnadozie
By any honest measure, Nigeria moves on wheels, wings, waterways and pipelines. From the long-haul trucker on the Lokoja–Abuja road, to the boat operator on the Niger Delta, the airline crew connecting cities, and the unseen pipeline networks powering industries, transporters form the circulatory system of the Nigerian economy. When transport works, trade flows, prices stabilise and opportunities expand. When it fails, the entire country feels the strain.
It is from this lived reality that the message of Transporters for Tinubu 2027, led by its National Convener, Prince Segun Obayendo, must be understood. This is not just a political call; it is a civic and economic argument: that those who carry the nation on their backs must also carry their voices to the ballot box.
For decades, transporters have been visible in labour and productivity but largely invisible in political power. Policies affecting fuel pricing, road safety, ports efficiency, aviation reform, inland waterways, rail integration and pipeline security are often decided without structured input from those most affected. The result has been cycles of reform and relapse, investment and neglect. The lesson is clear—economic importance alone does not guarantee political attention. Organisation and participation do.
Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has placed renewed emphasis on the transportation value chain as a driver of national growth. On land, major highway projects have been revived or accelerated, alongside renewed conversations around rail integration for freight to reduce pressure on roads. In aviation, reforms aimed at safety, sustainability and global competitiveness have sought to reposition Nigeria as a regional hub. Inland waterways have received increased policy attention as cost-effective alternatives for moving goods, while pipeline security and infrastructure remain central to stabilising energy supply and industrial transport.
These investments are not abstract government talking points; they directly shape the daily realities of transport operators—operating costs, turnaround time, safety, profitability and long-term viability. But infrastructure and policy gains are never self-sustaining. They endure only when the beneficiaries are organised, vocal and politically relevant.
This is where civic responsibility becomes inseparable from sectoral progress. As Prince Segun Obayendo argues, the most powerful tool available to transporters is not protest alone, nor quiet endurance, but the collective vote. Voter registration is the entry point to relevance. Without a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), the transporter’s voice remains moral but not measurable. In a democracy, what gets counted is what ultimately gets prioritised.
INEC’s ongoing voter registration exercise is therefore not a routine administrative process—it is a strategic opportunity. For transport leaders and operators, registering to vote is an act of self-preservation and foresight. It signals seriousness, unity and readiness to engage the system that shapes their operating environment.
Support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, as championed by Transporters for Tinubu 2027, is framed within this broader logic. The argument is continuity with engagement: consolidating existing investments while strengthening the sector’s seat at the policy table. It is about ensuring that reforms in road infrastructure, aviation oversight, maritime transport and energy logistics are not reversed or abandoned midway.
Crucially, this is not a call limited to one association or one region. Transport cuts across ethnic, religious and political lines. A bus driver in Ibadan, a tanker operator in Port Harcourt, a pilot in Lagos, and a boat operator in Yenagoa all share a common stake in stability, infrastructure and predictable policy. Registering to vote, and participating as a bloc, transforms that shared stake into shared influence.
Nigeria’s history shows that organised groups—farmers, labour unions, professionals—achieve more when they combine advocacy with electoral participation. Transporters are no different. What has been missing is sustained coordination and leadership, which groups like Transporters for Tinubu 2027 seek to provide.
Beyond elections, voter registration also strengthens democracy itself. It widens representation, improves accountability and forces leaders to listen more closely to real economic actors rather than abstract statistics. A registered, informed and engaged transport community can demand better safety standards, fairer regulations, improved infrastructure maintenance and inclusive policy formulation.
As INEC continues voter registration nationwide, the message is simple but urgent: this is the moment to be counted. Visit the nearest INEC office, complete the process, and encourage colleagues to do the same. Registration is not an endorsement of blind loyalty; it is a declaration of presence.
Transporters already move Nigeria every day. By organising, registering and participating, they can also help steer its political direction—towards continuity in infrastructure investment, deeper sectoral reforms and a future where those who keep the economy moving are no longer on the margins of decision-making.
In 2027, the roads, rails, skies, waterways and pipelines will still matter. The question is whether those who operate them will have a stronger voice in shaping the policies that govern their work. The answer begins with registration, unity and purposeful political engagement.