INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PERFORMANCE LEVEL IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Efficient intermodal freight transportation is very significant to the Nigerian’s economic performance in terms of import-export and internal distribution of goods. It is cardinal to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) because it ensures effective transport cost necessary for production and distribution. In the case of Nigeria, freight transport is dominated by unimodal transportation especially the highway where tankers and trailers (TTs) are the known freight movers. This has generated numerous challenges in forms of gridlock, congestion in the cities, emission of hazardous gases, loss of lives and goods due to rampant crashes on the highway. The study adopted composite, exploratory survey and multi-stage sampling procedure methods. Consequently 385 respondents were examined to gather relevant data on the problem, while, information was also elicited from secondary sources. Data was analyzed with Multiple Regression Analysis for the statistical test of the first hypotheses which examined the performance level of intermodal freight transportation and performance indicators in selected ports and corridors (Apapa, Tin Can, Onne and Rivers Ports Corridors).While the second hypothesis examined the relationship between Tankers and Trailers (TTs) crashes and the degree of port freight throughput in selected ports and corridors. The first hypothesis revealed a statistical significant relationship between the performance level of intermodal freight transportation in Nigeria and performance indicators at P value (0.033) <critical region (0.05). Also, the correlation coefficient (R) explains 67.3 percent of causation between the performance level of intermodal freight transportation in Nigeria and the performance indicators (capacity, cost safety, and availability) of intermodal freight transportation. The second hypothesis revealed an insignificant relationship between Tankers and Trailers (TTs) crashes and the degree of port freight throughput in selected ports and corridors at P value (0.069) > critical region (0.05). However, the correlation value (R) of 0.766 implies that there is a very strong and positive causal relationship between the Tankers and Trailers (TTs) crashes and the degree of port freight throughput in Apapa, TinCan, Onne, and Rivers Ports. The aggregated regression value of 0.586 from the analysis implies that 58.6 percent of the road crashes of Tankers and Trailers in Nigeria are caused by the degree of freight throughputs in Apapa, TinCan, Onne, and Rivers Ports as considered. The research reflected that the country’s overdependence is clearly indicated with well over 96% of good movement with water and rail recording infinitesimally low percentages of 1% and 3% respectively. The research hence recommended that attractive intermodal freight logistics services is required, where goods from port are being conveyed by water and rail to hinterland hub terminals before being distributed to the final destination by road, it also recommended that government should prepare a TRANS-STRUCTURAL PLAN to identifying intermodal corridors that gives efficient and effective freight transportation. Also, deregulation of major sector of freight transportation especially rail to allow for massive investment in the transport sub-sector by private operators, as this will avail high capacity modes like water and rail to seamlessly move piled-up freight at the Seaports to the final consumers.