BEYOND facilitating the movement of people and goods from one location to another, roads, rail lines, waterways, pedestrian corridors, and other modern transit systems enhance wealth creation and distribution. This is how cities and human communities work, and this is what makes them thrive. Efficient urban transportation stimulate economic growth, influence patterns of development, create employment opportunities, raise property values, and generate substantial tax revenue for governments. From Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt to Kano, transportation remains one of the most important determinants of urban prosperity. While housing, commercial activities, and industrial development are often regarded as the engines and drivers of economic growth, transportation is the indispensable factor that sustains them all. Urban transportation has existed for centuries, evolving alongside human settlements and economic activities.
Equally connected and inseparable, positively and economically are transportation and real estate. In the world of real estate, accessibility is value. Properties situated near major highways, rail stations, ferry terminals, and commercial centers often command significantly higher values than properties located in poorly connected areas. That is how it works in every part of the world. Buyers and investors are naturally attracted to locations that provide quick and easy access to workplaces, schools, hospitals, markets, and recreational facilities. Just take a look at areas where transportation infrastructure is provided or expanded, you will find out quick transformation of the communities. Areas that are once regarded as peripheral settlements have become thriving residential and commercial hubs, simply because they become more accessible. This trajectory is particularly evident in some parts of Lagos, where improvements in road networks and water transportation systems have contributed significantly to land appreciation. It is the construction of the 3rd Mainland bridge that first opened up places like Gbagada, Ketu and other communities along the corridor. The same pattern has emerged in Abuja, where the development of major expressways have accelerated commercial and residential development. Efficient transportation system no doubt enhances accessibility and convenience, drives real estate development, value appreciation and rental income, and ultimately expand government’s revenue.
It is quite unfortunate therefore that in Nigeria, where road transportation accounts for approximately ninety per cent of freight and passenger movement, poor infrastructure remains one of the main problems of road transport. Very few cities in Nigeria have modern smart highways, underground tunnels, footbridges, flyovers, advanced traffic management systems, intelligent transport management solutions, project monitoring information systems, etc. Most paved road networks have poor drainage systems and have lost their asphalt surface, making it difficult to drive on roads with uneven surfaces and potholes, especially during rainy seasons. Poor road maintenance, allocation of insufficient money for roads, low-quality materials used for repairs highly contributes to poor road transport infrastructure in Nigeria. Most main road networks made in the 80s and early 90s are old and worn out, but the government keeps turning a blind eye to them.
Yet, the efficiency of the transportation system largely determines the nation’s wealth and quality of urban life. The nation cannot afford to continue to struggle with inadequate public transport systems, deteriorating roads, persistent traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and ineffective urban planning.
Consequently, transportation investment should be viewed not merely as a social service but as a strategic economic asset. The government should urgently look into problems of road transportation in Nigeria. It is among the most affected means of movement in the country. A poor road transportation system slows a nation’s economic, cultural, and social development. The government should combat corruption in the road transport sector. Government should frequently repair roads before damages worsen to avoid high maintenance and repair costs. Private investors and the government should invest more in roads, and in alternative modes of transport like railways, and encourage people to use them to reduce road demand and traffic congestion. It should also concentrate on developing quality and modern roads that last long. Modern technology and skills will help us to construct proper drainage facilities, footbridges, underground tunnels, flyovers, and other modern infrastructure on roads.
Efficient transportation systems will provide governments with a powerful mechanism for increasing internally generated revenue. When property values rise, governments benefit through higher collections from property taxes, land use charges, development levies, capital gains taxes, registration fees, and various forms of business taxation. Increased commercial activity likewise leads to greater collections from value-added tax, company income tax, licensing fees, toll charges, and fuel taxes. Urban transportation therefore creates a multiplier effect. Improved roads attract businesses. Businesses attract workers. Workers require housing. Housing stimulates construction activities. Increased economic activity generates additional tax revenue, which can subsequently be reinvested in further infrastructure development. This cycle has been successfully demonstrated in many developed economies, where transportation investments have consistently produced long-term economic returns that far exceed the initial capital expenditure.