Tuesday 24 July 2012

2.3 EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ON TRNSPORT PATTERNS

According to O’ connor (1965) transport geography was concerned almost with the effect of economic activities on transport patterns, with explanation of traffic flows, and with description of transport system. Robert (1978) identified that the availability and prices of transportation services in an economy has a decided impact on overall .prices level, because transportation costs comprise part of the total market price of any item.

Stuckgy (1973) had written that; transport facilitated economic advance and transport improvement was indeed part of the economic activities arose directly because of new transport possibility, but for the most part new transport facilities enable the expansion of local activities and the integration of previously isolated markets. One of the recent major concerns of development in the developing nations is on the type of spatial structure that might enhance their economic development, promote the internal integration of their economics and ensure social equity in the distribution of the fruits of development (Bolade, 1979):

2.4 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF NGIERIA

The transportation system of Nigeria was dominated by railways until late 1930’s when the availability of cheap and efficient lorries revolutionized the transport system and made road development faster than was expected (Monanu and Ofomata, 1975).

In its report the economic co-ordination of transport Development in Nigeria, the Stanford research institute aptly stated that the economic history of Nigeria is largely the story of the opening up of its vast areas by various means of transport, resulting in its economic growth which, in turn, stimulated the demand for transport (Robinson, 1961). Indeed, one can say that the twentieth century developmental history of Nigeria is the history of the extension and consolidation of the frontiers of social, political and economic development by means of road transport.

The important of road transport in the development of inter-regional trade, particularly between areas of the country that are not accessible by any other mode of transport, can hardly be over emphasized (Onakomaiya, 1979). He stated that the significance of inter-regional trade in the promotion of internal unity, the fulfillment of the complement of nutritional needs of the people, the development of natural resources, the development of the natural resources of the remote parts of the country and in raising the economic standards of the traders and other participants engaged in such internal commerce has been well documented else where.

In his seminar report presented in Kaduna, Tunji (1989) stated that the quality of infrastructural facilities and services in Nigeria urban centres are generally poor and inadequate. He went further to say that the general conditions of most public transport vehicles also leaves much to be desired in terms of safety, convenience, scheduling and physical standards and even pollution of the environment. He finally concluded that there has been excessive reliance on road-based means of transport in the major urban centres and for both intra-state and inter-state journeys.

A study conducted by Greene and Rimmer (1981) proved that transport costs are high in Nigeria and their reduction is a powerful force making for further commercialization of economic life and improvement in living standards. The study further identified that the bulk of traffic (three-quarters of freights ton-miles in the early 1970’s) is carried on the roads, development which has accordingly been the major part of government transport policies.

In a two day conference of commissioners conducted at Lagos, Useni (1986) emphasized that “transport is the pivot which brings any effort aimed at initiating and sustaining economic growth in the country into fruition equally. He stated that the impact of transportation is a necessary factor in the political integration of the whole country. 
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1 comment:

  1. Very well written. but this should be shared with the political bodys. Transportation Job Duties

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