THE PROBLEMS OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          One of the major challenges to the economic and social well being of Nigeria in the past five years is the steady decline in the number of transport facilities nation wide resulting to road transportation problem. Nigeria is presently on the average of an imminent crisis and a state of paralysis of transportation. This is particularly manifested in the problems experienced in mass transit in rural areas as well as in urban areas. Road are very important to us. We travel from place to place along them on foot, on bicycles, by cars etc. our food and other goods come to us along roads, from the market in a near by villages, from the factories in our towns and cities or from far away countries.

          The most important means of conveying passengers and goods in Nigeria is road transportation. Early roads were built in the middle east soon after the invention of wheel and internal combustion engine in about 3000BC as trade developed between towns and villages,. More roads were constructed. The Romans, Eurasians, Egyptians, Etruscans and Carthaginians were known as the earliest roads builders modern. Road construction in Nigeria is relatively a recent foot path developments were in existence before the coming of the missionaries. Some of these routes were developed as motorable roads in order to supplement the roles of railways system. There are narrower tarred roads between the towns and there are thousands of small untarred roads that join one village to another all over Nigeria. Road has become a major problem linkage between city to city. The untarred road and high rate of pole holes has caused a great damages to many values leading to lake in fares and most of the available goods carried or transported to our town. To a near by village are often expensive. In Egor LGA, the popular means of transportation is road. A lot of economic activities have been hindered due to bad road leading to shortage of vehicle, and like in fares. People find it difficult to move from one place to another even along footpaths as a result of water that has accumulated all over the place. transportation has become unbearable to the people within Egor LGA by and large, it is imperative to note that the rapid growth of our nations, the problem of urbanization, the growth of industries and our commitment to rural development are factors that call for an effective implementation of the national transportation coordination policy.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM       

          Over the years a lot of attention and considerable efforts have been directed at improving road transport in Nigeria as a whole but these roads having been commissioned are left uncared for with holes and cracks doting the highways. Though a lot of money has been spent to promote a smooth good road, the Nigerian factor will not allow the assigned officials to carryout such jobs until the roads become a “death trap” inspite of millions invest on the nation road over the years. This research therefore seeks to investigate the problems of road transportation.

1.                 What are the problems of road transportation in the area?

2.                 What are the causes of road transportation in the area?

3.                 What are the effects of road transportation in the area?

1.3            OBJECTIVES OF STUDY   

This research work is set out to investigate road transportation in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State and which have hindered movement of people goods and services. It is also to examine the concept of road transportation, identify or examine the roles of road transportation, examine the problems of road transportation, examine the causes and effects of road transportation and proffer solutions to the problem of road transportation.

1.4            SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will cover Egor LGA of Edo State. It will focus on the problems of road transportation in the area.

1.5            RESEARCH QUESTIONS/HYPOTHESIS

In order to investigate into the problems of road transportation in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State the researcher formulated the following research questions. 

1.6            SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Road transportation is one of the most important and popular means of transportation in Egor LGA. Eventually all economic activities are carried out by the use of road transport. The study therefore look into the problem of road transportation in the area, the causes, effect with a view, proffering solution to the problem of road transportation in the area.

1.7            DEFINITION OF TERMS

Environment: This is a geographical location that comprises of territory.

Goods: Thins (not people) that are transported by rail or road.

Passenger: A person who is traveling in a car, bus, train, plane or ship and who is not driving it working on it.

Ply: To travel regularly along a particular route or between two particular places.

Pot hole: A large rough hole in the surface of the road is formed by traffic and bad weather.

Road: Specially prepared way, publicly or privately owned between places for the use of pedestrians riders, vehicles etc.

Route: A fixed way along which a bus train etc regularly travels or goods are regularly sent.

Transportation: A mean of which goods, services and passengers are carried from one place of origin to the place of destination.

Vehicle: Any conveyance (usually wheeled e.g. a cart, lorry, motor-car but also a sledge) for goods or passengers or road or land.