Increasing the Capability of Road Transportation System to enhance National Security in Nigeria

Abstract

One of the most serious problems in Nigeria today is insecurity. All over urban and rural areas of Nigeria particularly in the study area, the roads have become a menace making travelling a difficult task as a result of kidnapping, abduction, nation agitators, armed robbery and incessant ritual killings. Mobility and accessibility provided by transport system play a major role in shaping the country as well as influencing the location of social and economic activities. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors causing national insecurity on the roads as well as mitigating ways to control them to enhance national security. Data were collected with the use of primary and secondary data. The primary data involved the use of questionnaire to elicit information on factors causing insecurity on the road. 600 questionnaires were randomly sampled on commuters travelling on the four major routes that converged in Akure at designated motor parks (Fig.1). Four days were used to collect information through questionnaire including two days during the week and two days over the weekend to ascertain purpose of travelling along these routes. The number of black spot areas as well as the number of military check posts were sought for from drivers and commuters as well as through reconnaissance survey along each of routes that were used for the purpose of the study. Secondary data involved information on the distance between each of the four major routes and Akure. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics shows the socio-socio-economic status of respondents and purpose of travelling. The Gross Mean Weight Value (GMWV) was used to ascertain factors that really constitute insecurity in Nigeria. Factors such as high influence of arms, bad roads, poor security system and bad governance with Mean Weight Value (MWV) of 3.55; 3.30; 3.27 and 3.15 respectively are above the GMWV of 3.07 and were accepted as the major factors constituting insecurity in Nigeria. Factors such as drug abuse, porous borders, ethnic group/religious differences, unemployment, poverty and armed robbery with MWV of 3.04; 3.00; 2.97; 2.93; 2.92 and 2.59 respectively were considered less factors causing insecurity in Nigeria. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypothesis stated and it was revealed that rcal of 0.683 with P value = 0.317 at 0.05 level of significant, implies that there is no correlation between distance covered and number of black spot areas. Likewise, the rcal of 0.229 with P = 0.771 implies that there is no significant relationship between the number of black spot areas and military security posts on the road. The paper suggested construction of good roads, immediate arrest and prosecution of anyone found with fire arms, more military security check posts, and security attention in black spot areas such as the use of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), good governance and creating employment opportunities for the large number of youths in the country.