A Professor of Transport Geography, Emman Funlayo Ogunbodede, has
called on government at all levels to focus on building infrastructures to address the problem of inefficient transport
services and inadequate transportation in the urban space.

Prof. Ogunbodede made the call while
delivering the 10th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University,
Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, entitled, ‘Trading space for a
Cost: A Transport Geographer’s View’.

Prof. Ogunbodede said, “As human beings grow, so, also, the urban
space records growth and development. Hence, transport infrastructural
needs, at any point in time, must be pursued vigorously by government
at all levels to reduce transportation problems in our urban space.
Importantly, too, and as much as possible, we must not allow political
decisions to override planning decisions, if we want to ensure
adequate and efficient mobility in our cities.”

He asked government to encourage the construction of circular roads in
cities with over two million populations in order to aid efficient
distribution of traffic within the urban centres, while the movement
of traffic that are not destined for the city centre should be
diverted to circular roads or bye-passes with a view to assisting to
distribute traffic not meant for the city centre to the periphery.

He added that bus priority routes are made an integral part of the
road transport infrastructure in Nigerian cities with over 2 million
people, while road transport infrastructures and complimentary
facilities' development should be phased out and made to coincide with
vehicular and spatial growth of settlements.

The don emphasized the need for para-transit or Bus Rapid Transit,
BRT, on some routes, especially the ones that link up both commercial
and public land uses to residential zones of the city, which according
to him, would go a long way to reduce congestion in some routes and
also reduce waiting time at bus stops to such zones.

According to him, provision of supplementary power supply to streets
and traffic control points should form part of the Corporate Social
Responsibilities of major eateries, banks and hotels that often put on
their electric power generators each time there is power failure.

Prof. Ogunbodede further said, “The three tiers of government should
promote the use of non-motorized mobility in the urban centres that
now qualify as metropolis and megalopolis. Light rail system should be
encouraged from the city centre to the outskirts of the urban
environment. This will greatly discourage and reduce the congestion
experienced in the Central Business District, CBD.

“Traffic Information System, TIS, should be incorporated into the
existing traffic management system of cities. This TIS must be built
on a well-designed database. The database must however be updated from
time to time to meet the exigencies of traffic dynamics. TIS should be
fully deployed to create effective monitoring platform for traffic
situation to road users and curb traffic offences.”

While canvassing the development of curriculum on safety awareness
education for motor traffic offenders, drivers' license applicants and
all other roads users, Prof. Ogunbodede urged city planners to make
the necessary provisions for a public parking space in the core area
of the city with appropriate transport complimentary facilities to
encourage the free flow of traffic.

He added, “The existing urban road transport infrastructure like roads
and complimentary facilities like street lights, traffic lights,
drainages, zebra-crossings and bus stops should be properly maintained
and put to effective use.
“Consideration should also be given to the reconstruction of major
roads, provision of more motor parks, fly-overs, over-head bridges and
traffic lights at intersections as the city assumes a new settlement
status.”