INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT SERVICE AND CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE USERS: A CASE STUDY OF IKORODU VICTORIA ISLAND WATERWAY CORRIDOR

Abstract

Effective transport service is central to sustainable urban development, enhances movement of people, goods and services. Because of high demand for movement in the cities, there is a need to take a multidimensional approach to address urban transport needs. The main thrust of this paper is to assess the efficiency of inland waterway transport service along Ikorodu - Lagos Island corridor, with a view to identifying challenges confronting the commuters. In conducting the research, relevant literatures were reviewed.Primary data were collected, through the aid of questionnaire and inspection surveys. Convenience sampling method was used to sample 10% of a day waterways passengers, which accounted for 189 respondents.

The data collected were analysed and presented with the aid of tables and photographs. The study identified six main facilities, which include parking space, passengers lounge, jetty, ferry boat, accident prevention andwaterway route. None of the facilities was identified to be in good condition.

Apart from poor condition, none of these facilities has adequate capacity, in term of space to provide efficient and comfortable inland waterway transport service for the commuters. Hence, there were no enough security facilities, such as life jackets, in case of accident. Consequently, the inland waterway service of the study area has not been able to attract adequate number of users, considering the traf fic holdups along the motorways. Based on this, the study suggested the need to invest more towards improving the quality of facilities needed to provide safe and convenient inland water transport service.