MINIMIZING NIGERIA TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS IN THE NEW MILLENIUM
Introduction
The all-embracing phenomenon called transportation is a measure of relationship between places. Transportation performs the role of linking supply and demand. As a means of conveying people, goods and information through places, the provision of transport facilities and services is very crucial to the economic, political, social and cultural life of any country or nation. Thus considered, transport contributes to the overall development of a country since it serves as essential means of collecting, moving, transferring and distributing people as well as goods in from place to place.
Transport systems however, are grouped in for major categories namely, water or sea, air, pipeline and land (road and rail). Importation and exportation depends so much on transportation which provides the movement and logistics for the goods imported or for export. In real terms, transport development is considered one of the greatest technological breakthroughs. This is because man has through these feats recreated the concept of distance and nearness.
The socio-political relationship between countries could not have been possible without transport links between them. Transport can therefore be labeled as the catalyst that stimulates and improves human existence on earth and reduces distance for man’s trips in space. It is also clear that through transport, man has been able to move in space, circulate around the urban areas or centres of the world, thereby improving and enhancing his knowledge on planet earth.
Akinbami & Fadare (1998). A transportation system can enhance the productivity and quality of life of a community if properly planned and managed. At the same time, development stimulates demand for transport.
The rapid urbanization around the world means that more people will be making more trips in urban areas. Since, transportation is the life wire of any urban society; it could make or mar the environment depending on the interactive measures and degree of responsiveness to transport planning and management in urban development. Transportation is the life-wire of any urban environment. It is central to the flow of knowledge, information and commercial goods. The type of available transport, and how they are used, tells a great deal about a society and its values. (Oni 2003)
Without much Ado, this paper is going to observe the problems of Nigeria transport systems and to proffers sustainable way forwards for the problems.
PROBLEMS MILITATING AGAINST THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA
Since the attainment of independence in 1960, the problems of Nigerian transport system include bad roads; inadequate fleets of buses or trucks; vandalization of pipeline; irregular, inadequate and overcrowded trains and airplanes and congested ports. These are common features of the developing world. In line with these are physical problems such as dearth of suitably-trained transport managers and planners, capital restructuring bottlenecks, serious issues of institutional reforms and ineffective traffic regulations. Other problems are that hampering the systems, centered around the following:
Human Factors: Indiscipline and Corruption, Enforcement problems (Disobedience and Disregard for law), poor driving habits, market and marketing activities, stacking of building materials on roads and occasional traffic/parking over spill from religious and social centers.
Poor Transit Facilities – Lack of sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, cycle ways, bus stops, and traffic control devices; and lack of Traffic Information Systems.
Rampant Land-use Change – Irregular and uncontrolled High Rise development, unguided redevelopment programmes; and commercialization of residential land-use.
Unguided and Inconsistent Land-use Planning Practices – No systematic guide/plan to guide the city’s growth, and lack of an integrated, comprehensive and coordinated positive policy; poor and non-integrative institutional arrangement.
Environmental deficiencies and general urban management problems frequent friction and conflicting responsibility among different levels of government over land-use controls which affect the inflow of the transporting means in Nigeria.
On 3rd June 2005, in a speech entitled “Reform of Transport Sector In Nigeria” presented by the then Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, at the financial bid opening of Port Harcourt Port Terminals “A” and “B” at L’Meridien Hotel, Abuja, the Honourable Minister confirmed to Nigerians that “transportation occupies a central position in the socio-economic and political development of any nation” and further confirmed that “successive Nigerian governments have left the transport sector comatose as a result of total neglect”. He listed the following as being characteristic of the Nigerian transportation system: excessive government monopoly; grounded rail system whose services are more or less inefficient; obsolete and deficient transport policy; under-developed inland waterways transportation, ports and port services that leave much to be desired, and (wait for it!) corruption.
This was during Obasanjo’s term, exactly three years ago. What exactly has changed since then, you ask me? Nothing. It is quite possible that the same rhetoric were uttered by several previous Transport Ministers twenty, fifteen or ten years ago. Still no changes all have been empty speeches and promises. It is not surprising to most Nigerians. Every administration and ministers come and go, failed to leave their marks, fail to deliver and the next thing you know, the Minister is a billionaire.
Dr Sekibo, amongst other things, also admitted that the entire transport system was sliding on a downward gradient and could no longer provide vital links that would support socio-economic activities in a modern society. Damn right, you were!
I would not like to go through his entire speech, but the Minister recognised, at least in his speech, and playing to the gallery as is typical of our politicians, which a lot of work needed to be done to improve, develop and sustain our transportation system.
The summary of the transport problems in Nigeria are: inferior quality of networks, shortages and malfunctioning of transport equipment and furniture, corruption-forwarding and back warding of public funds into personal pocket, lack of executive capacity and technically-qualified personnel, inadequate planning and coordination, inadequate capital and the legacy of unfortunate economic and political policies, continued concentration of transport development on intra and inter-city linkages and the relative neglect of rural transport, institutional gridlocks, inefficient energy use (fuel shortages), safety, security and environmental issues, financing, research and technology, economic, financial and inefficiency viability.
WAY FORWARD FOR TRANPORTATION PROBLEMS IN NIGERIA
The present system of transportation can be described as ‘highways’ to nowhere, therefore, there is urgent need to engage professionals to assist in achieving functional, responsive, sustainable and beyond sustainability of transport in Nigeria. Many researchers have written concerning the sustainable measures for proper Nigeria’s transportation systems.
Sustainable transportation involves infrastructure investments and travel policies that serve multiple goals of economic development, environmental stewardship and social equity. (Spaethling, 1996). A sustainable transportation system has its goal service output and stewardship of the landscape and resource base, not simply the efficiency of the highway system. The objective of which is to maximize the use of the transportation system to achieve economic and related social and environmental goals, without sacrificing the ability of future generations to do so. This can be accomplished by: Concentrating on moving people and goods rather than vehicles or avoiding movement altogether if telecommunications or changes in land use can substitute for present travel needs Increasing the use of market – based policies to encourage innovation in transportation operations and to capture the full environmental and social cost of transportation Improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure through technical fixes in a multi-modal network, and Addressing public concerns regarding social equity in system design. (Oni, 2002).
In Sekibo speeches (2005) where he mentioned the existing modes of transportation in Nigeria – rail, road, inland waterways, etc – and aptly described them as inadequate, inefficient and ineffective, due to the above reasons given. He then outlined the proposed Government plans to resuscitate the transportation system, including putting in place, a 25-year prospective Rail Development Plan, concessioning of railway transport services, rehabilitating of key trunk roads and welcoming investment in road construction and maintenance, and restoration of the lost glory of inland waterways transportation, capacity building and development, and finally ended by saying that “our mission is to bequeath to this nation an efficient, sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly inter-modal transport system through Public Private Partnership (PPP) either through concessioning, joint ventures or Build Own Operation and Transfer (BOOT arrangements”.
Oni, (2002) Government should adjusts the following strategies
Public enlightenment on the need for regular maintenance of vehicles, use of appropriate tyres, corrects driving habits and relative energy efficiency of various vehicles, eradicate the sale of adulterated and leaded fuel, set up emission standards for imported vehicles, promote research on alternative energies such as electricity and solar energies, as well as phased programme of low-emission automobile fuel such as unleaded gasoline and compressed natural gas, need to recognize professionalism in transport management initiatives, need for database and information networking on land use, land use pattern, demographic and population attributes mapping of the physio-graphic situation, industrial developments their locations and localization and socio-economic activities, need for transport development plan and conference whereby all stakeholders in the area of transportation are brought together to articulate.
However, in cussing the problems that are deterorating the transportation sector of Nigeria the following aspect should be taken into cognizance:
1. Planning for an efficient traffic management policy measures, in order to monitor traffic congestion by the road transport system
2. There should be strategic policies that will check the activities of the aviation industry as against the airspace routes traveling
3. Pedestrianization and pedestrian safety measures - pedestrian bridge and channeling wall, crossings, guard-rails, etc.;
4. Exclusive bus priority measures - right-of-way – scheme, bus lanes and ways and lane markings; parking controls and enforcement - parking facility and bus terminals; lorry routes;
5. paint measures – lanes lines, direction markings, road signs and sign posts; one-way systems; linking of traffic signals –traffic signalization; transit – right-of-way scheme – road safety markings; road pricing; ride sharing; shared parking; park and ride; and work – staggering for Traffic Relief.
6. closing of certain shopping precincts and streets of motor vehicles, at certain periods of the day and segregation of pedestrian ways from vehicles to avoid accidents;
7. provision of foot-way, pedestrian walkway, cycle track and safety device planting of trees that would act as shades.
8. Parking Controls. A great deal of attention is being given to movement, but very little is being done about the end-of-journey problem, the problem is of inadequate, poorly distributed and managed parking facilities.
9. Lorry Routes. The designation of specific routes for heavy freight vehicles that normally service the commercial centers. Restrictions, routing or giving them specific desirable times to enter the urban centers.
Other measures worthy of consideration include:
• Enforcement facilities – tow trucks, immobilizers and parking meters, proper aviation policies for proper airline routes traveliing.
• Provision of standardized and lengthening of selected conventional Bus Stops, bus shelters lightening.
• Reactivation and rehabilitation of traffic sign posts, lights and signals, speed limit signs and construction of lay-byes.
• Revitalization of rail and ferry services where applicable.
• Clearing of roadsides and sidewalks from hawkers and traders, and land-use restraints/restructuring.
• Junction and inter-section control improvement measures.
• Replacement and reorganization of terminals, parking lots, parking and loading control
measures, and provision of terminals for all the means of transportation
• Parking restrictions schemes, traffic safety management, and
• Establishment of ‘pick-up’ and ‘discharge points’.
• Effective co-ordination of multi-modal transport facilities, pedestrian facilities provision at modal interchange.
• Improving telecommunications services, application of least-cost
Conclusion
It is no doubt that Nigeria society is confronted with problems the transportation sector, but with collaboration of the stakeholders, corporate bodies, individual and government for maintenance management system, Heavy investment on transport infrastructure, improvements in rural and urban land use practices, improvements in telecommunication services, change in attitude should be emphasizes in order to have sustainable transport systems in Nigeria society. The various transport modes should be utilized in a co-coordinated and integrated manner to provide better service for Nigerian.
The reduction of demand through improvements in land-use practices and telecommunication services will, when taken together with a coordinated transport service, go along way towards providing noticeable relief. The envisaged policy must therefore reflect the reality of the existing situation as national priorities change over time. This implies careful monitoring of the changes and the timely introduction of necessary adjustments of transport policy, adequate institutional arrangements, improved maintenance culture and stronger enforcement and disciplined mind would go a long way in sustaining the transportation problems in Nigeria.
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Challenges of transportation in Nigeria
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