Background The focus of the study is to assess the role of different transport means in the importation and diffusion of 1918-19 influenza and a novel 2019 corona virus designated as COVID-19 in Nigeria. Methods The study provides a review of the means by which the two pandemics were imported into the country and the roles the transport means of each period played in the local spread of the epidemics. Results The study notes that seaports and railways, being the emerging transportation modes in the country were significant to the importation and local diffusion of 1918-19 influenza, respectively, while air transport is significant to the importation of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions The study concludes that increasing preference for the transport at a given epoch is significant to the diffusion of prevailing epidemic in the epoch.

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This study assessed the contribution of containerization to the development of Western Ports, Lagos Nigeria. The aim was to assess the influence of containerization on some indices of port development such as port infrastructure development, ship turnaround time, cargo dwell time and congestion. Questionnaire was used to gather information on the contribution of containerization to change in maritime trade in the country, the influence of containerization on terminal expansion, congestion, level of investment in container port infrastructure as well as the influence of such investment on container dwell time and ship turnaround time (TAT) and the competitiveness of container terminal within Nigeria port systems and with other developed container ports of the world. Secondary data used included statistics of reports of operations of Western Ports between 2000 and 2010 as reported by NPA, as well as reports of some selected ports derived from Containerization International Year Book, which were used in this study for the sake of global reference. Summary tables and ANOVA for the analysis of the data. Results revealed a significant contribution of containerization to maritime trade relative to the ports' annual records but with no significant influence on ship turnaround time, cargo dwell time congestion which are determinants of port productivity and competitiveness. The study concluded that Western Ports have still not reaped gains of containerization and lacking in competitiveness when compared with other developed ports of the world.

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Road traffic accidents involving tankers are important causes of death and injury in Nigeria. This study examined spatial patterns and possible determinants of tanker accidents in Nigeria. Secondary data on tanker accidents for the year 2007 to 2010 and other relevant data were sourced from the databases of the Federal Road Safety Commissions of Nigeria and National Bureau of Statistics. The spatial patterns of tanker accidents were mapped using Global and local Moran's I statistics. The data were also subjected to Ordinary Least Square and Geographically Weighted Regression techniques. Findings indicated that tanker accidents vary by state and also revealed an upward trend in the occurrence of tanker accidents. The local Moran's I indicate persistent clustering of tanker accidents in two states throughout the study periods. Factors influencing the patterns of tanker accidents in the country were identified. The study recommends strategies for the avoidance of tanker accidents in Nigeria.