CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It’s important to emphasize the importance of Apapa Creek Road. Any traffic congestion on it will undoubtedly cause several problems in the logistics company, which is the primary operation on this road.
Creek road is a key thoroughfare that connects the prime Apapa port (Wharf) with one of Nigeria’s international airports (Murtala Muhammad Airport, Ikeja), which are several kilometers apart.
This is one of the routes that contributes significantly to the federal government of Nigeria’s financial stability. It connects Tin Can Island Port, Conmaldi, and a few more container ports, as well as oil farm depots, along the route in terms of interconnectivity. The never-ending and never-ending
Several attempts have been made in the past and recently to find a long-term solution to this traffic problem, but no satisfactory solutions have been achieved. The majority of the government’s efforts to address this issue have always taken a Fire Brigade approach. Alternative routes and ways of transportation into and out of the port are urgently needed.
It is necessary to have a multi-modal transportation system. It is self-evident that traffic congestion is the most significant impediment to the success of the transportation/logistics industry, particularly in this part of the world. Its importance cannot be overstated, since every country is developing strategies and techniques to address the traffic problem.
Every day in Lagos, road traffic into and out of the port complexes becomes more crowded and dangerous. This increase in vehicular activity has resulted in traffic congestion and delays when entering or leaving Apapa, particularly during peak hours, necessitating a study of alternative modes of transportation and intersection management in the area to see how they fare in directing and controlling traffic, particularly how those intersections tend to reduce conflicts along Apapa’s three major intersections – Liverpool Road, Point Road, and Wharf Road. An intersection is where two or more roads meet, and it is generally a source of conflict among vehicles because it is a designated place for vehicles to turn in different directions to reach their desired destinations. The primary purpose of intersections is to direct vehicles traveling in various directions to one another.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The traffic problem into and out of the Apapa port complex is caused by a number of factors. One of these is the lack of holding bays, which is an unprofessional manner of doing business in the maritime industry. Many shipping companies in the Apapa area do not have their own stemming ports or holding bays for export shipments. On the same route as the efforts to return empty containers to the Apapa Port, this has become imperative. Another consideration is import/export profitability, which is used to determine the cost difference between import and export shipments and their economic impact, particularly in inland container depots. In light of this, this study will look into factors such as a lack of empty container holding bays and unstructured container truck parks before moving on.
Underutilization of the railway system, the Lagos Lagoonal System, and pipeline, along with an over-reliance on the road, has resulted in endemic difficulties on the road and its associated infrastructures. Accidents, road disasters, traffic congestion, and robberies, among other things, characterize the road.
Apapa’s multiple roles as an industrial, economic, educational, administrative, and transportation center contribute to the terrible traffic condition. Furthermore, the city’s geographic location, drivers’ disruptive behavior, and the unexpected surge in car ownership as a result of improving living standards, as well as the use of trailers and tankers, have all contributed to exacerbating the problem.
The study area’s deteriorating transportation infrastructure has been put under severe strain as a result of Lagos’ fast population increase.
The road crossings in Apapa were designed nearly four decades ago and created no concerns at the time. However, the rise in vehicular activity – large trucks and autos – causes significant problems because capacity was not taken into account when certain road crossings were designed, resulting in major conflicts and delays for motorists. Increased commercial activity in Apapa has resulted in a massive influx in trucks, autos, and pedestrians, causing great challenges for road users who must struggle with roadways that were created decades ago. As the number of vehicles on the road increases, so do the conflicts at these intersections, resulting in delays, accidents, and the loss of man-hours that could have been better spent.
The majority of Nigerian firms are reliant on foreign capital.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this research is to critically investigate conflicts that occur within an intersection from a conflict perspective and attempt to explain what happens and why at the three crossings in Apapa. In a similar spirit, the study will concentrate on the crossings’ safety, degrees of control, and traffic-controlling capabilities. The purpose of this research is to examine Lagos port accessibility critically. The following are the goals:
Identify the characteristics of the traffic;
Congestion on the streets; and
Determine the points of friction in Apapa by conducting traffic counts and determining the flow of traffic through these intersections.
Propose an alternative mode of transportation to alleviate traffic congestion in and out of Apapa.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The ability of a country’s economy to grow is dependent on free-flowing, modern, and smart transportation infrastructure.
The research would help to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the neglect of various forms of transportation other than the road. This study would be useful to city planners and engineers involved in intersection design since it would provide more information about what is required or the basic aspects to consider when designing intersections. Students that are interested in conflict resolution in port areas will benefit from this research. The study will also benefit drivers, particularly motorists and pedestrians, in understanding the reasons of intersection conflicts, as 95 percent of those accidents are caused by driver error and erroneous perceptions of the situation.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of traffic congestion on the Oshodi Apapa Expressway, specifically at the intersection of Toyota Junction, Ladipo Auto Dealer Market, and Airport Road. The goal of this study is to assess traffic congestion along this route, its effects on road users en route to Airport Road from Oshodi, Mushin, and Apapa, and alternative solutions. The scope of this study was limited to this section of the Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos, Nigeria, due to the unique nature and state of the road, as well as the type of traffic that passes through it on a daily basis. Basically, the study looked into difficulties that arose from the study’s objectives, such as road conditions, traffic conflict points, and so on.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This research will focus on the reasons of accidents and delays that occur solely at the designated intersections, and will not look into additional causes of accidents in Apapa. The research will stop at accounts of disputes at Apapa crossroads and the roles they play in traffic flow.
STUDY AREA
Lagos state is located in southern Nigeria, between latitudes 602′ and 604’N and longitudes 2045′ and 4020’E. The state is bordered by Ogun State to the north and east, the Republic of Benin to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state’s overall land area is 3,345 kilometers, and its population is believed to be around 15 million people. Apapa is a significant port in Lagos, Nigeria, located to the west of Lagos Island and across Lagos Harbor. It is also one of the 774 local government districts in Nigeria. The research area extends from Dock Road to Warehouse Road, with geographical coordinates of 6 27 N 3 22 E /6.450 N 3.367 E.