As the most populated country in Africa, Nigerian roads play host to millions of vehicles.
In Nigeria, vehicle ownership has witnessed tremendous growth. This may be attributed to economic and urban development, population growth, government policies, inadequate public transport availability, among others.
Although the most prominent issue the country seems to face is the poor maintenance of road networks, it has not stopped the ever-increasing growth of vehicle ownership.
Over time, the state of a nation’s transport system has been a reflection of its economic growth and development. As the economy of the country increases along with population, urbanization grows and mobility demands continue to rise. This, in most cases, leads to rapid acquisition of private vehicles, jettisoning public transport.
Despite the increase in vehicle ownership, Nigeria has continued to witness a series of traffic oriented problems despite the traffic control measures and policies.
However, the continued increase in privately owned vehicles may also have effects on humans, the climate and the environment, as well as the economy.
This is because the increase in private vehicle ownership has led to rising congestion levels, increased pollution, high fuel consumption and a high traffic fatality rate.
How can public transportation address these effects?
For these effects to be addressed, the public transport system has to be adequate and effective. The government should consider the development of an accessible, safe, conducive and affordable public transportation system, which may discourage the increased use of private vehicles.
Implementing an effective public transport system reduces reliance on private car ownership. This is because public vehicles can board a significant number of people and this can be an effective way of minimizing traffic and congestion.
Also, public transportation has lots of social benefits. Commuters can always rest, nap, read or engage in other activities while in public vehicles, which reduces the stress of driving an owned car on busy roads.
Besides, pollution caused by the carbon emission from vehicles affects the human system, ecosystem and causes climate change. In preventing this environmental hazard, effective public transport will mean a reduction in the numbers of owned vehicles, hence air pollution will be curbed to a significant level.
More so, public transportation has its economical, social, and environmental benefits. Reduction in the number of vehicles plying an area, investments into the public transport system, and an increase in land values are part of the economical advantage of implementing a public transport system.
Also, effective public transportation can provide social and economic benefits. It can help citizens save a lot of money and reduce the costs of maintaining a private vehicle.
In essence, an effective public transport plan is capable of enhancing measures towards the elimination of fuel scarcity, minimization of traffic congestion, air pollution and road traffic accidents which has affected the nation over the past decades.
It will also enhance the government’s effort towards an appropriate forecast of fuel demand in Nigeria, hence, prepare our systems for more economic and social change.
