Impact of the High Cost of Transportation on the Transport Modal Choice In Northern Nigeria: A Socio-Economic Perspective
By Agba F. I., Wizor, C. H.
Transportation is vital to any economy as it is inseparably linked to other sectors. It is the vehicle for inter- and intra-country trade and a means of movement. The study examined the impact of the high cost of transportation on the transport modal choice in Northern Nigeria using socio-economic factors. Using qualitative and quantitative approach for research design and data collection, the study adopted 450 respondents randomly selected from North-West/North Central (NE/NC) states- Kaduna (164), Abuja (61), Plateau (93), and Benue (132), covering Airport Authorities, NURTW and Bus Operators, NRC staff, Security and Safety Agencies, and Passengers. The socio-economic attributes considered include fuel subsidy removal, pricing regulatory framework and higher transportation costs. The finding revealed that fuel subsidy removal (55%), pricing regulatory framework (39.3%) and higher transportation costs (51.9%) had significant impact on high cost of transportation and transport modal choice. The finding indicated that high cost of transportation arising from socio-economic factors has a significant impact on transport modal choice (p = 0.000). Conclusively, socio-economic pressures directly influence modal choice decisions in Northern Nigeria; hence, the importance of policy interventions aimed at stabilizing fares, regulating transport pricing, and aligning wage levels with inflationary realities to ensure accessibility and affordability of transport services for the population.