CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Generally, transportation is the actual physical movement of people and goods

from one place to another (Ahukannah et al, 2003). Transportation is a wealth

creating industry on its own as well as the life-line of an economy. By “lifeline”, it

means that transportation is extremely important for the survival of the economy

(Olubomehin, 2012).

The presence of an adequate, reliable and efficient technological system is a

critical factor in for effective development in transportation. A well developed

transportation infrastructure provides adequate access to different areas, which in

turn is a necessary condition for the efficient operation of manufacturing, retail,

labour and housing markets.

Indeed, the provision of a high quality transport system has been identified as a

pre-condition for the full participation of remote communities in the benefit of

national development (Camemark, 1979). A technologically inclined Road

transportation system opens up new areas of economic activities, increases

agricultural production, revitalizes trading activities and impacts positively on

urbanization process.
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Inadequate transportation technologies limits a nation’s ability to utilize its natural

resources, distribute food and other finished goods, integrate the manufacturing

and agricultural sectors; and supply education, medical and other infrastructural

facilities. There is the need therefore to incorporate efficient technology to the

existing road transportation and build new infrastructure for national wealth. On

the impact on local economies, appropriate application of technological systems

into highway expenditures have been found to help increase rural employment,

particularly in manufacturing and retail industries, and studies have shown that

new highways tend to benefit rural counties near metro areas (Brown, 1999).

1.2 Problem statement

Road transportation is the most widely use means of transportation in Nigeria.

Over the years before the advent of air transportation, road transport has been seen

as the fastest and the safest means of transportation when compared to rail and

water transportation. But travelling by road those years takes a lot of time and

creates a lot of traffic congestion.

As years advances, the incorporation of appropriate and effective technology in the

road transport system has cleared all the nightmares of road transportation in

Nigeria. The use of appropriate traffic regulatory technologies has reduced traffic

congestion to the barest minium.

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This research therefore tries to solve the following problems;

i. What is the impact of technology on the demand for road transportation?

ii. What is the impact of technology on the efficiency of road transport system?

iii. What is the relationship between technology and efficiency in road transport

system?

1.3 Aim and Objectives

1.3.1Aim

The aim of this research is the explore the role of technology in road transport

system in Nigeria.

1.3.2 Objectives

The objectives of this research are;

i. To explore the impact of technology on the demand for road

transportation in Nigeria.

ii. To evaluate the impact of technology on the efficiency of road transport

system in Nigeria.

iii. To determine the relationship between technology and efficiency in road

transport system in Nigeria.

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1.4 Research questions

i. What is the impact of technology on the demand for road transportation in

Nigeria?

ii. What is the impact of technology on the efficiency of road transport system

in Nigeria?

iii. What is the relationship between technology and efficiency in road transport

system in Nigeria?

1.5 Research hypothesis

Ho: Technology has no impact on the demand for road transportation in Nigeria.

Ha: Technology has impact on the demand for road transportation in Nigeria.

Ho: Technology has no impact on the efficiency of road transport system in

Nigeria.

Ha: Technology has impact on the efficiency of road transport system in Nigeria.

Ho: There is no relationship between technology and efficiency in road transport

system in Nigeria.

Ha: There is relationship between technology and efficiency in road transport

system in Nigeria.
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1.6 Significance of the study

There is the need to appreciate the role of technology in transportation in Nigeria.

This research therefore tries to evaluate the role of technology in road transpiration

in Nigeria. Data gotten from this work will be useful in the following ways;

To the government, it aids in checkmating the overall application of technology in

road transport development. It will also help the management of the Nigerian

transportation industry in enacting polities that will ensure proper incorporation of

effective technology in the development of road transportation networks.

To future researchers, it will serve as a source of useful information for their study

on this topic or similar topics.

1.7 Scope of the study

This work is limited to the role of technology in road transportation systems in

Nigeria. However, aspects like the role of transportation in economic development

will be also treated in this research.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

The most difficult part of this research project was to collect relevant statistics

the topic under study. The little material contains information which was not

updated. Moreover, the little time allotted for this work made it very difficult to

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access the needed information. Another problem encountered was the inability of

the respondents to respond adequately and promptly to the questions on the

questionnaire.