Ethiopia, Djibouti ink deal to upgrade Dikhil – Daguru Road
Tasked to improve transport services, monitor ongoing service deliveries and address outstanding problems, the Ministry of Transport (MoTr) established an independent council in collaboration with stakeholders, the Transport Minister announced.
Minister of Transport, Dagmawit Moges, held a press conference yesterday explaining the major activities and achievements undertaken by her Ministry in the first quarter of the fiscal year and other federal government institutions under the Ministry’s supervision.
During the press conference, Dagmawit indicated that government and actors in the transport sector have forged a new partnership over the past three months. In addition, she announced, the Ministry established a new council named Service Quality Improvement Council, formed out of a total of 69 institutions, associations and stakeholders engaged in the entire transport service sector.
“We are committed to accountability and are open to be questioned while we use this council to monitor other stakeholders as well,” she told journalists.
The stated council includes the Ministry and the respective public institutions under its supervision, transporters, transport association, car dealers, importers, drivers, garage owners, freight and forward service providers, maritime professionals and related organizations, general aviation actors, contractors engaged in transport related infrastructures, and other various stakeholders.
She underscored that the establishment of the council is one of the government’s steps towards building its commitment, accountability and will to be questioned regarding its plans and subsequent implementation.
The Minister said the council will primarily serve as a platform for the entire public to identify challenges, address bottle-neck problems, and also improve the prevailing transport service. Furthermore, she told journalists that the council has already been granted a free office facility, while it made recruitments that enable it to execute its task.
Similarly, a “new and dynamic” website has been developed through which the entire public could file complaints, give tips and necessary information regarding the services availed in transport related sectors.
In a related development, Ethiopia and Djibouti have signed an agreement to revamp the 80 kilometer Dikhil – Daguru road, a part of Galafi highway.
Chief Executive Officer of The Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation, Engineer Yonas Ayalew, and Director General of the Djibouti Ports Corridor Roads, Abdi Ebrahim Farah, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
The signing agreement was attended by the Minister of Transport, Dagmawit Moges and Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority Director, Abubeker Oumer Haji.
During the signing ceremony, it was indicated that the Dikhil–Daguru road has been heavily damaged, hindering the transportation system across the cross-border highway connecting Ethiopia with Djibouti. An 80km detour will be constructed soon, while the main construction phase of the road will start in the coming two months.
The repair work is crucial to address issues related to time during transport on the Galafi cross border highway.
