Abstract
The problem of transportation in most of our rural areas today has been on an increasing rate, thereby influencing the surrounding environment. As result of the above assertion the need to assess the rate of the phenomenon cannot be overemphasized. So, the focus of this research work has been directed towards identifying the problem of trasnportation in Achalla village and its environs so as to secure a resounding lasting solution to it. The methodology applied included obtaining data from primary sources such as administration of questionnaires to a sample of population of Achalla village. As well as information from secondary source (Books, journals) and through direct observation. The researcher is of the view that with a proper identification of the problem of transportation in rural area (Achalla village) and proper planning put in place, the problem of transportation in Achalla village would be reduced to a minimum.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Transportation
is the conveying of person or goods and services from one place to another. It
has always been an important human activity, from the most primitive to the
most advanced stages of development.
The need
for the conveying of goods arises from the fact that they are often provided in
one place and desired in another. The transportation arises from the need of
individuals to go from one place to another to satisfy some need, whether
connected with business or related to social, cultural or recreational
interest.
The
distance between the location of goods and where they are desired, or where an
individual finds himself and where he wants to go, may be looked upon as an
obstacle in and cost.
Transportation
improvement, therefore is focused on the objective of overcoming the difficult
inherent in distance, although other aspects, including safety, convenience and
comfort may be important values in improved transportation services.
Transportation
in every country is one of the most important elements of social and economic
development.
Transportation
industries worldwide manifest a very strong correlation to the level of economic
development, but this is so especially in developing Countries like Nigeria,
Ghana, and Kenya. But the transportation net works in the developing Countries
(Worldwide) are not developed.
However,
in the developed Countries of the world like USA, Britain and other European
Countries, Transportation system here, have fully developed to affect their
socio-economic progress and socio-factor up to the main super power. It
influences the development of an area as well as serving the area. The travel
patterns have to be tangible, stable and predictable. The trend is directly
related to the distribution and intensity of being accurately determined for
the future. There is a kind of relationship between the different modes of
transportation, such that the future role of any particular mode cannot be
determined without giving consideration to the other modes.
Transport
is an important promoter of interaction through its power of providing access.
Mobility and access are the cornerstones of the rural economic activity and
transportation is the bedrock on which these cornerstones are built. An
expanding area or place requires efficient transport facilities in order to
function properly.
Transportation
today is a matter of passionate public concern. Personal mobility has become a
highly valued goal, our economic prosperity has become increasingly dependent
on the movement of goods over long and short distances and changes in people’s
attitudes and technology are rapid, violent and unpredictable. We spend a
significant proportion of income on transportation and we have many times
questioned its price, its efficiency and it’s social and environmental effect.
As a rule, road transport operators neither provide nor maintain their way,
perhaps mainly because the facility is shared by a multitude of users owners or
occupiers of property along the way benefit from it as well.
The
government of the Federation has so far paid insufficient attention to the
provision of adequate transportation facilities in the rural area which will
stimulate rural development. Such a laissez-faire attitude to rural development
has been explained by the fact that all the government area urban-based. The
local government councils, most of which are not economically viable, are
charged with the responsibility for the construction and maintenance of rural
roads. In addition, these councils lack the personnel and the equipment to
execute such programme on the other hand, the federal and state governments
have a shorter length of roads to maintain.
The
problem of rural transportation planning is also concerned with the flow
pattern of what moves in the rural areas and the resultant change in the land
use structure and form. The quantity of food stuffs and cash crops which form a
major point of the traffic between rural areas and their urban markets or rural
periodic markets, are not known. This occurs because the mechanisms for collecting
and analyzing such data are not available. These of course, are hampered by the
relatively small volume of traffic in rural areas, the short movements and
dispersed derivation of traffic. In addition, there is imbalance in flow and
out flow of goals and services from rural areas and there is also a marked
variability of seasonality in demand and supply of transportation (Ogundana
1972).
The
problem of transportation in rural area cannot be over look because it affects
the socio-political and economic development of the area.
The
problems have to be critically examined and at the same time make provision for
the solution. Majority of the roads in Achalla are in bad condition they are
only seasonally passable and poorly maintained. Some villages or community are
still without motorable access at all. There exists a vast net work of
community tracks, paths and foot bridges of unknown length. Responsibility for
this community level infrastructure lies by default with the local population.
Transport activities on this infrastructure take place mainly by foot and by
Non- Motorized means of transport.
The
rural roads are often over designed resulting in waste of scarce resources
which leaves poorer communities unconnected.
Studies
of travel and transport patterns in rural areas reveal that travel is
predominantly on foot and is very time consuming.