LOCAL PEOPLE'S BURDEN OF MOVEMENT AND NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY FOCUSSING ON MILE 12 MARKET IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study evaluates the role of non- motorized transport in the movement of local people's goods with a focus on Mile 12 Market in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The research questions which the study addresses include: What are the socio-economic characteristics of the operators and users of non-motorized transport? How are non motorized transport operated? What are the problems confronting the use of non motorized transport? How effective are non-motorized transport in the movement of goods? A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistical method. Findings show that majority of the operators are male and they use wheel barrow. Most of the operators indicated that financial and health problems affect their operation and that governments do not provide incentive to them. Majority of the users are married women and they use it because it is readily available. However, they are poorly organized. In case of loss of freight, it has always been difficult to track down the operators to retrieve forgotten goods or lost items. Policy implications of the findings towards alleviating local people's travel burdens are discussed in the paper.