Transport Systems and Well-being in Nigeria

Question: Describe about the Transport Systems and Well-being in Nigeria. Answer: Introduction Transport system is considered the backbone of the economy. As the economy grows, the relevance of transport also grows. The demand for transport system is derived because it not only focuses on the carrying of the commodities from one place to another but it also elaborates on the personal travel. Moreover, the transport system in Nigeria is not much developed. As a result, there the government is seeking different policies in strengthening the transport system (Rodrigue, Comtois and Slack 2013). However, the diversification that can help in strengthening the system is the through the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). The research evaluates the Nigerian transport system while highlighting the forthcoming diversification in the land transport infrastructure. However, the external environment as well as transport system needs to be reviewed before diversification. Nevertheless, the mass rapid transit system needs to be made holistic with the urban development strategy such that the system seems to be affordable with the passengers as well as municipal budgets (Mega 2016). Problem Statement The diversification in the transportation system is to meet the emerging responsibility of mobility. The Nigerian transportation system is confronted by the complexity of the modern cities despite the methods of movement in the country. However, the poor macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria has not only been deteriorating the transport infrastructure but has also been affecting the future that is glimpsed with great uncertainty. In the urban transportation system, one of the basic issue lies in congestion where the demand has exceeded the supply at a specific point in the transport system. However, in this scenario, every vehicle repairs not only impairs the mobility of others but also creates problems related to accidents, land use distribution, environmental and noise pollution (Aderamo 2012). Aims and Objectives The aims and objectives of the research highlight the diversification of the Nigerian system through Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and analyzing the position of the current transportation system prevailing in Nigeria. On the other hand, the regulation of MRT in Nigeria will be studied to ensure the improvement in the transportation structure of Nigeria. Research Questions The research questions that study the research are: How will the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) be beneficial to improve the transportation system in Nigeria? What are the recommendations that can be made to the Mass Rapid Transit transportation system keeping in view the situation analysis of the country Nigeria? Literature Review Transport System in Nigeria The Nigerian transport system is in great need of economic and financial viability that efficiently develops the system based on the quality of services. However, the transportation system of Nigeria was flawed right from its inception because it was poorly designed and was unable to meet the nations increasing demand. The traffic congestion on roads, adverse railways and puffed up airfields are the conditions that fail to meet international standards of a transportation system (Pearson 2015). The flawed design of the current transportation system can be met by diversifying its current design through the introducing Mass Rapid Transit in the system. It forms to be strategic mechanism for not only creating an effective system but also proving beneficial to business (Jin, Teo and Sun 2013). The government of Nigeria has considered privatizing the Nigerian Railway Corporation as well as ports by granting concessions to private port operators to improve the quality of its operations as well as port facilities (Adelekan 2016). Current Scenario of the Transportation System in Nigeria Globally, Nigeria is low in order in terms of the quality of its infrastructure because of which conducting business operations has become difficult. Meager levels of investments in the transportation sector have induced its current infrastructural deficit. The major challenges, which the government is currently facing, are primarily low and inadequate investments and poor management of transport infrastructure. Experts say that annually $15 billion is required to fund Nigerias infrastructural deficits adequately (Igwe et al. 2013). When it comes to road travel, the federal government has done quite a lot in the last fifteen years to alleviate and improve the coverage of Nigerias road transport. One such example being; the work of the Directorate of Foods, Roads, and Rural Infrastructure (DIFFRI), which has embarked on a campaign to construct 60,000 kilometers of new rural roads, but in reality the roads, have not received proper maintenance and have become particularly problematic during the monsoons (Adetola 2014). Many roads in the rural regions of the country cannot be travelled in excess of 40 kilometers owing to large and recurrent potholes that mark the way in many rural roads. Moreover, the conditions of motorways are so bad that motorized vehicles avoid the original roadways so that there are no new dirty tracks formed. As a result, the other portions of the rural roads have been condensed to a single lane. Proper maintenance is critical because Nigeria experiences torrential rainstorms, which decays the small areas of the roads very rapidly owing to the forces of erosion. Nigeria has also a high number of road accident rates amongst other inefficiencies (Aderamo 2012). The health of the railway systems in Nigeria is also very grim. The major issues faced by the railways are: Certain Technical problems such as rail buckling associated track/speed limits, tight curves and steep gradient. Lack of effective communication. Management structure interfered by the government. No freedom to set tariffs Inflexible bureaucracy. Volatile Staff Training (Aderamo 2012). However, while acknowledging all these, it explains that the Nigerian railway network needs a decent transportation system to move a major part of its appraised 50-60 million tons of freight per annum. Moreover, if this is not done then the people will continue to use roads, which in return would result in rapid deterioration of the road network (Emeasoba, Ogbuefi and Enugu 2013). The sea transport is not as effective as compared to South Africa because it has almost doubled its growth in the past years. The government is trying hard but its efforts are all going in vain. Moreover, the situation is not very different in the airways sector too. As a result, it is leading to poor reputation on operational efficiency and several local airlines will soon be declared bankrupt, its situation does not get better (Adetola 2014). Mass Rapid Transit Nigerian government should consider a Mass Rapid Transit system like in India, which has a system using underground or elevated trains for moving daily commute passengers. Rapid transit is also known as metro, subway, heavy rail, or underground is a type of high capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. The government with adequate funding should consider building Rapid transportation system like the ones, which are exclusive and cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles of any sort (Legara et al. 2015). The immediate effects, which would be seen in MRT is that it is faster and it does not interfere with other traffic as they require separate underground or overhead infrastructure (Te Roopu Taurima and Otahuhu 2015). It is environment-friendly because it considers the pollution levels of Nigeria as it will help in reducing the number of cars in the urban areas considerably. There are many social benefits in a society like Nigeria because it not only glorifies the social integrity of the country but also functions irrespective of religion/caste or financial status. Economically, Mass Rapid Transit can both improve the usefulness and efficiency of the public transit system as well as increase business opportunities for the commercial development, which has a direct impact on improving the countrys economy. It even permits higher amount of load to be transported to distances far away in lesser time remaining to its reasonable capacity than private vehicles (Litman 2015). Research Methodology The research framework should be based on the research outline that not only covers the various concepts as well as various theories that studies the research but also provides the authentic explanation to the research. Research Paradigm The research nature is ontological in nature as it studies the aspect of procuring knowledge through based reality. This paradigm is ruled-out by knowledge and focuses on external validity that could be applied in the research. However, here the knowledge will be constructed based on the given scenario evaluating on perspectives regarding the phenomena (Eriksson and Kovalainen 2015). Research Philosophy The research philosophy follows an interpretive philosophy that deals with the subjective meanings. However, here it is important to analyze the Nigeria transportation system based on the diversification strategy. Hence, the research will be flexible in developing research structures because it will evaluate the environment based on the collaborative approach (Gray 2013). Research Strategy The strategy that is being used in the research is based on action research and case studies. These research strategies prove to be apt because it not only focuses on social problem but also highlights the progressive problem solving to find underlying principles rather than elaborating on theoretical interests (De Vaus 2013). Data Collection and Analysis Methods of Data Collection The data collection methods undertaken in the research is to highlight the decision making approach. Moreover, it helps in capturing evidence of the research based on ideas and knowledge. However, the two types of data that can be broadly underlined is primary and secondary data (Silverman 2013). However, the method adopted here is secondary data collection method that is which will help in evaluating the situation of the transportation system in Nigeria and whether the diversification strategy applied will be efficient or not. Conversely, the two types of methods that a research is governed by is quantitative as well as qualitative data. The quantitative data helps in evaluating the research based on numerical as well as statistical data whereas qualitative data is used for interpreting the knowledge of the subject in which research is conducted (Cohen, Manion and Morrison 2013). Nevertheless, the method adopted in this research is qualitative in nature and is based on subjective factors where the macro environment will be assessed on the diversified transportation system of Nigeria. Data Analysis The data interpretation will be based on the secondary data collected through journals, books, newspapers and articles. Moreover, PESTEL analysis will be conducted on the Nigerian transportation system to analyze the factors in diversification through MRT. Overall, the analysis will investigate the diversification strategy while enlisting the positive impacts on the transportation system. Policy Implications MRT has been recognized as a policy that links to the sustainability and depends on the effectiveness of controlling congestion (Vincent and Kenneth 2014). Although, MRT is a transportation system that helps the city to grow but on the other hand, it helps in avoiding the bad excesses of low-density car-dependent suburban sprawl. Moreover, the policy objective of MRT makes service quality affordable by tracking and poverty alleviation and makes service quality critical by attracting car users. However, all MRT options duly impacts the environment as well as low income households (Aderamo 2012). Conclusion To conclude, it can be said that MRT might prove to be beneficial in the Nigerian transportation system to improve the condition of the transportation system. Nigeria being a developing country has to reduce poverty as well as control pollution such that a part of it can be solved by the new diversified transportations system. Although, MRT does not interferes the transportation system but it does adds prospects of success to the countrys transportation sector. References Adelekan, I. 2016.Transport Systems and Well-being in Nigeria: Socio-economic development and environmental change. Ucl.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/transport-institute/pdfs/adelekan [Accessed 5 Aug. 2016]. Aderamo, A.J., 2012. 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