Examination of On-Street Parking and Traffic Congestion Problems in Lokoja

Parking and traffic congestion is synonymous to each other because failure to meet parking demand of people in a city lead to on-street parking that results to traffic congestion. Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queuing. The availability of less space in urban areas has increased demand for parking space especially in central business area. Inadequate off-street parking in most of our urban centres has metamorphosed to the problem of on-street parking coupled with inadequate traffic management commonly experienced today in most Nigerian cities. In view of the above, this research work examined the menace of on-street parking and traffic congestion problems in Lokoja, Nigeria. The study was conducted using questionnaires and field observation to collect the required data at the locations/corridors in the city where on-street parking and traffic congestion were prominent and also, adequate survey of the traffic devices in the locations of study was also conducted to determine it functionality. Four hundred and fifty one (451) questionnaires were administered to the shop-owners, one hundred and seventy four (174) to the parked vehicle-owners and one hundred and two (102) to the commuters, to make a total of seven hundred and twenty seven (727) research samples. Finding revealed that inadequate parking, infectiveness of traffic devices, absences of loading and offloading bays etc have caused on-street parking and traffic congestion in Lokoja. To reduce the menace, policy measures are recommended among which are; institution of enforcement of traffic rules and regulations by disciplined law enforcement agents, relocation of certain activities that caused on-street parking and introduction of intelligent transport system which make use of sustainable devices such as Bluetooth and other communication/mobile devices, traffic management improvement and provision of off-street parking facilities in the city plan. Key word: Transportation, on-street parking, traffic management, urban center, traffic congestion, Lokoj

Rural Road Infrastructural Challenges: An Impediment to Agricultural Development in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

Accessibility to the rural area by road is a key factor in achieving Sustainable Development Goals in pursuance of optimal survival these areas. Various rural development policies instituted in Nigeria to alleviate the condition of rural dwellers and to sustain agricultural development, yet the smooth accessibility desires of several rural areas impaired by poor rural road infrastructure. The resultant effect of this is low agricultural productivity in rural areas and food insecurity. Rural communities in developing countries are mostly disconnected from the major roads and public transport services that should provide them access to the economic and social opportunities in cities. To this end, the research examined how road infrastructural challenges have impeded the development of agriculture in Idanre Local Government Council Areas, Ondo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was purposively and randomly administered to collect data from a total of 200 farmers across 20 villages in the study area. Analysis of data for the information retrieved from the respondents were carried out with aid of descriptive statistics while stepwise regression examination was done to test the hypothesis. Findings revealed a high cost of transportation and irregular transport services as a result of the poor state of the roads in the study area have hindered effective agricultural development. Results also indicated that motorcycles were the dominant means of transportation in the LGA. This among others resulted in an increasing rate of post-harvest loss because of the restrictive capacity of motorcycle and high cost of transportation. The study recommended the construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated roads infrastructure to enhance agricultural development in the study area

Road Transportation In Sustainable Rural Development Of Akutupa-Kiri, Kogi State Nigeria

Rural road transportation has being a topical issue in most developing counties of the world. Despite the fact that rural area play a dominant role in the production of food and fiber; its economic activities had been hindered as a result of poor road transportation system. To this end, this paper examines road transportation in sustainable rural development of Akutupa-Kiri, Nigeria. Structured and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of 188 (one hundred and eighty eight) households head representing 2% of the entire population in the study using systematic sampling technique. The data were presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency counts and percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis. Findings revealed that Akutupa- Kiri is characterized by inadequate road infrastructure; there is high cost of transport due to the poor condition of road and frequent armed robbery attack on the road.. Results also indicate strong correlation (0.91) between cost and time of movement in the area. Also, the Department of Works in kabba-Bunu Local Government is not effective pertaining to road development matter in the study area. The study recommends provision of road infrastructures, establishment of road maintenance department at the local government level to facilitate rural development and increase agricultural production of the area. In addition, anti- robbery security personnel should be deployed to Akutupa-Kiri road to counter robbery attacks in the area. Key Words: Road transportation, Rural area, Sustainable rural development, Akutupa-Kiri, Nigeri