Special Issue Journal of Human Geography and Environmental Studies

Special Issue 2, December 2018

Article Number: 08

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Prospects and Problems of Pirate Public Inter-City Transport Services in Lokoja, Kogi State

Adetunji, M.A.

Pages 437-441

Abstract—This study examines the characteristics, prospects and risks associated with the operation of the pirated inter—city transport services in Lokoja, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were required for this study. Two sets of questionnaire were designed to elicit information on the operation of the pirate inter-city transport services in Lokoja metropolis. The first set of questionnaire numbering one hundred and eighty copies was administered to the pirate transport operators soliciting information on their mode of operation. The second set of questionnaire was administered to the union executives of formal transport operators about their mode of operation as well as the challenges encountered with the pirate transport operation in the state. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that more than 70% of the pirate transport vehicles are low occupancy types. Approximately 40.1% of the respondents claim that they became pirates in order to avoid unnecessary queue at the terminals. An absence of the usage of manifest by the pirate transport service operators left much to be desired. The study recommends that the operation of the pirate transport services should be reviewed and incorporated into the formal public transport services because of its large patronage by travellers in Nigeria.

Keywords—transport services, pirated, safety, income and government policy