Impact of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Mass Transit Policies and Programmes on Urban Mobility in the Lagos Metropolitan Area

Nasir  Olarewaju Ayilara; Musa Zakari

doi:10.32350/gsr.51.05

Authors

Nasir Olarewaju Ayilara National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Musa Zakari National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/gsr.51.05

Keywords:

federal government of Nigeria, Lagos metropolitan area, mass transit policy, national land transport, urban mobility

Abstract

The study examined the effect of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Mass Transit Policies and Programmes on urban mobility in the Lagos Metropolitan Area. It adopted the theory of Planned Behaviour as a theoretical framework, and employed a mixed-method research design comprising a quantitative survey and qualitative documentary analysis. The target population consisted of daily commuters in Lagos Metropolitan Area, transport policy implementers, and transport infrastructure assets. The total population of the study was approximately 8 million daily commuters. A sample size of 384 respondents was determined. Primary data were collected through the administration of a structured five point Likert scale questionnaire to the384 commuters. Descriptive statistic was used to present the quantitative data, while multiple linear regression statistical technique was used for analyses and testing the hypotheses at a p<0.05 significance level using SPSS v.27. Findings from the hypothesis One revealed that the National Land Transport Policy has significantly enhanced commuting efficiency in the Lagos Metropolitan Area, with a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05). The findings from hypothesis Two revealed that federal bus terminal infrastructure investment has significantly enhanced public transport accessibility, with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). Similarly, the findings from hypothesis Three revealed that federal railway modernisation programmes have significantly enhanced multimodal integration, with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). The study concluded that federal mass transit policies have a significant positive effect on urban mobility, with railway modernisation having the strongest effect. The study recommended, among other things, that the Federal Government should establish dedicated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the National Land Transport Policy, accelerate construction of bus terminals in underserved suburban areas, expand railway programmes beyond existing lines, and enact legislation mandating maintenance allocations.

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