Engr. Remi Adewunmi, PhD, FNSE
Director, Transport School
Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT Zaria
Introduction
Informal transport refers to transportation services that operate outside of formal regulatory frameworks. These services often emerge to meet the transportation needs of communities where formal public transportation is limited or unavailable. Any road mode of transport prevalent in developing countries where private sector entrepreneurs operate small passenger vehicles on a route sometimes without formal stops and no schedules. Informal transport plays a significant role in many cities and communities, providing essential mobility services to residents. However, it also raises challenges relating to safety, regulation, and sustainability with various implications for socioeconomic development which could either be positive and negative.
The Informal Transport Services operate at the discretion of the entrepreneur or as programmed by the available transport union assignments. They usually begin their runs at terminals which they generally leave when they are full or when they close for the day. They mostly stop to pick up and drop passengers along the way to the terminal at the other end of the route and due to lack of regulation, may sometimes divert off the given route.
Examples of Informal Transport
• Motorcycle taxis: Motorcycle riders offering transportation services, often in urban areas mostly providing last mile or last kilometre services
• Tricycle taxis: Tricycle riders transporting passengers, often in urban or rural areas. Generally becoming a popular transportation system in major urban centres in Nigeria more because of the employment opportunities it provides the teeming young population in the urban centres.
• Taxis or ride-hailing services: Unlicensed or unregulated taxi services, often using personal vehicles. Even the organized e-hailing services available in major cities are largely unregulated and are dominated by rickety vehicles. Once you can get the air-conditioner in the car working, other things are secondary
• Minivans or buses: Privately owned vehicles operating as public transportation, often without formal permits.
• Ride-sharing services: Informal ride-sharing services, where individuals offer rides to others, often through social networks.
Characteristics of Informal Transport
• Unregulated: Operate outside of formal regulatory frameworks.
• Flexible: Often adapt to changing transportation needs and routes.
• Low-cost: Can be more affordable than formal transportation options.
• Community-based: Often rely on local knowledge and social networks.
The Lagos Example
Despite huge strides in transport infrastructure development and accelerated demographic expansion in Lagos according to the Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, the rapid dynamism of the city has not been accomplished due to the presence of the informal sector. This lack of planning has led to the proliferation of slums, degradation of Urban areas and facilities, and transportation problems affecting all modes including
• Neglected infrastructure
• No real alternatives to road transportation
• Insufficient capacity and inadequate road hierarchy
• Inadequate and insufficient link roads and bridges
• Unregulated street trading
• Inadequate traffic management
• Safety and security issues
This situation has led Lagos to a state of growing congestion which represents a major challenge for the Megacity. A poorly regulated and unstructured transportation system does not help in easing the congestion problem. The Lagos public transportation system is highly fragmented with many unregulated routes concentrated along major corridors. The majority of the public transport providers use mini-buses (Danfos) leading to an inefficient public transport service which is largely responsible for the modal change from public into private transportation. The use of the mini buses itself generates additional congestion resulting in the degradation of the public transportation system in Lagos.
The LAMATA Managing Director while presenting a paper on Transport Infrastructure Delivery and Sustainable Development of Lagos State: The LAMATA Experience pointed out that until recently, buses accounted for 76% of the motorized person trips (2% BRT, 2% Regulated buses, and 72% unregulated) the taxis and private cars accounted for about 19%, rail and water accounted 1% and 2% respectively while the remaining 2% accounted for by motorcycles, locally known as Okada (STMP, 2014).
Implications for Socioeconomic Developments
Transportation connects communities and bridge social divides and management must incorporate visionary leadership and connectivity. If transportation in any urban centre cannot connect seamlessly, then there is no transport. Hence, positively informal transport provide income generating employment opportunities for individuals and improve access to employment, education, and healthcare. Informal transport can offer affordable transportation options for low-income communities and can adapt to changing transportation needs.
One the other hand, it can negatively compromise safety due to lack of regulation which may contribute to traffic congestion, and have disturbing environmental impacts due to emissions.
Task before Governments
• Regulation: to ensure safety and environmental standards and strengthen existing institutions
• Integration of informal into formal transportation systems while leveraging on digital technology
• Investment: prioritize investment in transportation infrastructure to support both formal and informal transport services.
• Partnerships: partner with informal transport operators to improve services and promote socioeconomic development. The private sector players are not necessarily interested in infrastructure development but profit.
• Carry out studies to determine best fit for the cities and the states and not just copying what worked in other states.