Former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, has identified four major global disruption risks threatening transport systems, energy security and international trade. He highlighted geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, climate change and technological disruption at the second Nigeria Transport Summit 2026 in Lagos.
Delivering the keynote address on Friday, October 23, Aisuebeogun urged African economies to strengthen their resilience against external shocks. He said investment, regional integration and institutional reforms were essential to sustaining economic growth amid growing uncertainty.
The summit, themed “Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future,” brought together industry stakeholders to examine challenges affecting Nigeria’s transport and logistics sectors.
“My argument is that investment in energy security, infrastructure development, regional integration, digital trade, logistics efficiency, and institutional reforms are essential for navigating uncertainty and building sustainable futures,” Aisuebeogun said.
Global disruption: Four threats to transport resilience
Aisuebeogun’s presentation examined four broad disruption categories reshaping the global economy. These are geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and health emergencies, climate change, and technological disruption.
Geopolitical tensions have affected energy markets and international shipping routes. The Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East have contributed to uncertainty affecting fuel prices, maritime operations and transport costs.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in global supply chains. It disrupted international trade and demonstrated how health emergencies can affect transport networks and economic activity across countries.
Climate change presents another major challenge. Flooding, extreme rainfall and rising temperatures threaten roads, bridges, railway infrastructure, ports and airports. These hazards can also disrupt agricultural production and energy generation.
Technological disruption brings both opportunities and risks. Artificial intelligence, automation and digital systems can improve transport efficiency. However, cyberattacks, system failures and unequal access to technology create additional vulnerabilities.
Aisuebeogun warned that these pressures expose weaknesses in national economies, transport systems, energy markets and international trade networks. For Nigeria, their effects can compound foreign-exchange volatility, rising operating costs and delays in obtaining imported equipment and spare parts.
Energy security critical amid global disruption
The keynote’s concerns echoed those raised by Pearl Ngwama, convener of the summit, in her welcome address. She explained how international energy-market shocks can quickly affect domestic transport operations and the wider economy.
Ngwama cited a US Energy Information Administration outlook dated October 6, 2026, which reported that Brent crude averaged $114 per barrel in September. Prices rose amid attacks on energy infrastructure and disruptions to Saudi Arabia’s oil export routes.
Higher energy costs place additional pressure on airlines, shipping companies and road-haulage operators. Businesses may pass these expenses to passengers and consumers through higher fares, goods prices and logistics charges.
“The lesson is clear: energy security and transport resilience are inseparable,” Ngwama said.
She also highlighted maritime insecurity and shipping-route disruptions. Longer voyages, vessel shortages and higher insurance premiums can increase transportation costs and inflationary pressures, particularly in import-dependent economies.
Ngwama urged Nigeria to improve port competitiveness, cargo evacuation and logistics connections. She said these improvements would help reduce the effects of international trade disruptions.
Nigeria urged to integrate transport networks
Ngwama warned that global disruption often exposes weaknesses already present in Nigeria’s transport system. She argued that fragmented planning and poor coordination prevent infrastructure from delivering its full economic value.
“Our task, therefore, is not simply to build more infrastructure. It is to ensure that existing and new infrastructure work together to move people and goods safely, affordably and efficiently,” she said.
She called for stronger connections among road, rail, maritime, aviation and inland-waterway transport. Better integration could reduce delays, lower logistics costs and improve access to markets.
The convener also linked transport efficiency to Nigeria’s ability to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area. She stressed that access to wider African markets would have limited benefits without reliable and competitive transport networks.
Both speakers emphasised infrastructure investment, energy security, technological innovation and consistent policies. They also called for closer collaboration between government, regulators, investors and transport operators.
Ngwama urged participants to develop practical recommendations rather than simply identify industry challenges. She said the summit’s success should be measured by the quality of its proposals and the actions that follow.
“Our success should ultimately be judged not by the number of speeches delivered, but by the quality of ideas generated and the actions that follow,” she said.
The summit examined aviation’s exposure to fuel and foreign-exchange pressures, alongside rail-led multimodal integration to improve national connectivity and trade facilitation.
Aisuebeogun’s keynote and Ngwama’s welcome address underscored the need for Nigeria to prepare for external shocks. Strengthening infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and integrating transport networks will be essential to building resilience against global disruption in a competitive transport economy.
