Nkechi Onyenso, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Pathfinders International Limited, has called for stronger collaboration between government and private sector operators to develop resilient transport systems, attract investment and sustain business operations amid global disruptions.
Onyenso made the call at the second edition of the Transport Summit, organised by JustAlive Communications Limited, where she stressed the need for governments to involve industry stakeholders in policymaking to ensure policies reflect operational realities.
She said cooperation between both sides was essential to developing sustainable transport and trade systems, particularly in the face of economic uncertainty, climate change, health emergencies and supply chain disruptions.
“The government that’s making the policies should be in tune with the private sector that is actually living the policies. Because if a person making the policies doesn’t listen to the people that are affected by the policies, there’s a disconnect,” she said.
According to her, government and private sector operators must work together from the policy formulation stage to develop harmonised measures that businesses can implement effectively.
“Everybody must be in the room. As government is making the policies, the players are also in the room,” she added.
The Pathfinders chief executive also urged companies operating across the aviation, rail and other transport sectors to develop comprehensive business continuity plans to prepare for unexpected disruptions and ensure faster recovery.
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She explained that businesses needed to identify potential risks within and outside their control and develop strategies to protect their operations when crises occur.
Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, Onyenso said companies must be prepared to withstand disruptions beyond their control and recover quickly when normal activities resume.
She also identified corporate governance as a critical factor in building investor confidence and attracting international funding for transport projects.
According to her, transparency, fairness, integrity and accountability are necessary to establish trust between government and private investors and ensure that partnerships deliver sustainable results.
“The system has to be fair. Everybody must have something favourable that they can give each other in an email to say a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties,” she said.
She warned against practices that undermine transparency, urging businesses to maintain clear and accessible records to demonstrate accountability to prospective investors and partners.
“People have to come out and not cook the books. Come out and say things the way it is. That will build trust. That will build confidence,” Onyenso said.
She added that international financial backing would be easier to secure when project records were transparent and investments were viable, sustainable and capable of delivering results.
The summit focused on navigating global disruptions affecting mobility, energy and trade facilitation, with discussions centred on strategies for strengthening transport systems and improving their resilience.
