Intra-City Mobility and Characterization in a Fast-growing City of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Effective urban transportation no doubt serves as engine room and catalyst for driving national economic development. Significantly, the purpose of urban transport is to provide both passenger and freight mobility over specific parts of urban areas including cities, and its efficiency is characterized upon transporting effectively and achieving economies of scale. Hence, this study examined intra-city mobility and characterization in Lagos, Nigeria. The data was sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data detailed the use of two sets of questionnaires administered to commuters and motorists. 182 copies of questionnaire were randomly administered to commuters, while 60 units of the questionnaire were purposively and conveniently administered to motorists. Descriptive and inferential techniques were used for data analysis. Major findings revealed obvious variations in socio-economic parameters of intra-city trip makers and factors influencing trip making. It was observed that journey to work, school, shopping cum business constituted the major trips characterizing in Lagos. Findings also revealed that high patronage priority was given to most used and preferred means due to vehicle travel speed, trip purpose, and availability than safety and comfortability of modal choice. Regression analysis result revealed that commuters’ modal choice and patronage is statistically influenced by operational attributes of mode (e.g. transit time, delay duration, safety, vehicle condition and transit fare etc.) at Sig. p=0.000 and F14165 15.667 which is greater than table value at 5% significant level. The study recommended among others the formulation and implementation of effective policy for urban transport activities; standardization of service operations and expansion of infrastructural facilities including the last-mile in the city.

Struggle for Sustainable Public Transport in Southwestern Nigerian Cities

“…Table 5 revealed that the majority (57%) of the respondents earn below 50,000 Nigeria naira (₦) monthly as their basic salary. This result is no doubt true as the finding supported that of [1,13,17] that shows that the majority of urban dwellers in Nigeria patronize public transport mode just because of their low financial status.…”

“…Sustainable public transportation is defined as meeting the environmental, social, and economic aspects of current public mobility and accessibility demands while not jeopardizing future travel and accessibility demands [1,10,11]. It is the capacity to satisfy mobility requirements while considering the environment, i.e., a pleasant environment with low emissions, using safe, dependable, and cost-effective modes that promote improved health and welfare of general users [6,12,13]. The Council of Ministers of Transport described sustainable public transport as an affordable public transport system that works fairly and effectively in large number of passenger movement through a variety of modal choices and supports balanced regional growth and a competitive economy.…”

“…Unfortunately, Nigerian cities face a plethora of public transportation-related challenges, as the functioning and survival of these cities rely on public transportation systems [13,14]. It is not an overstatement that public transport which is at the heart of mobility in Nigerian cities, is rapidly becoming a catalyst for spatial insanity, land use imbalances, and urban crime promotion.…”

State of Urban Transport in a Nigerian Traditional City

“…These findings corroborated that Reference [14,15] reported that Nigeria has the lowest level of motorization in West Africa with as low as 4 Vehicles per 1000 inhabitants, while the rate of vehicle growth is much lower than the population growth rate. And unfortunately, despite the level of motorization, the urban transport in West African cities most especially Nigerian cities is still characterized and faced with various alarming mobility and accessibility challenges with undoubtedly hinders the development of these cities in competing with their contemporaries in developed countries [16,17]. The root of these mismatch is not unconnected to the failure of planning urban transport in line with the growing population surge, weak policy, carefree attitude of Governments, corruption, political instability among others [5].…”

“…Generally, the study observed a high rate of use of para-transit means of transport in form of cabs and minibuses, low use of high capacity mass transit as represented by Pacesetter Transport Service bus and non-usage of bicycles in the study corridors. The study concluded that urban transport system in the study area is inefficient and not matured considering the poor operational characteristics of urban transport service which has been adversely influencing the level of satisfaction of urban trip makers compared to Lagos, the only city in Nigeria included in Urban Mobility ranking index [12,16].…”