An Evaluation of the Inland Transportation and Its Effect on Logistics in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To evaluate the extent of Government commitment to the development of inland water transport in Nigeria
- To ascertain the relationship between the inland transportation and effect on logistics
- To ascertain the effect of inland transportation on Nigeria economy.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
RELATION BETWEEN LOGISTICS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Developments in growing global economy and increased competitiveness make logistics a sector which has strategic importance. Accordingly, developments in logistics sector have become a propellant force related with growth of countries. Increasing investments in this area and forming of logistics networks has provided advantages for countries. Consequently, countries have currently increased their investments in this area and logistics sector has become prominent as a segment which grows rapidly demonstrates impact mechanism of logistic investments on economic growth. Accordingly, investments on logistics infrastructure have increased logistics capacity, has provided rise of efficiency, has improved the quality of service creating a secure domain, and has provided an increase in added value. So this situation has allowed low logistics costs, short transportation time, and creating of work enlargement opportunities. As a result, this process has increased efficiency and competitiveness force for countries and so it has allowed to economic growth. When the literature is analyzed, it is pointed out that a great majority of the studies analyzed China origin. Mody and Wang (1997) studied various determinants of economic growth using the data were collected from 23 industry sectors which are located in seven coastal regions of China for a period between 1985 and 1989. It was discovered in that study that development in transportation and telecommunication facilities was leading of the growth. Demurger (2001) researched relation between infrastructure investments and economic growth for 24 provinces in China. In this study which contains years between 1985 and 1998, it is found that investments on transportation and telecommunication have positive significant impact on economic growth. Chu (2010) studied relation between logistics and economic growth in 30 provinces of China for a period between 1998 and 2007. In this study which was used generalized method of moments approach that is the one of the methods of dynamic panel data analysis, there was a positive significant relationship between investments of logistics sector (transportation, storage, mailing, and telecommunication) and growth. However, the contribution of logistic investments for growth is higher for interior undeveloped provinces in comparison to coastal provinces. Wang (2010) analyzed the effect of logistics activities on regional economic growth for Anhui province in China. In this study, cargo turnover was used as a proxy of logistics activities and the findings showed that the effect of logistics activities on regional economic growth is uncertain. Cheng et al. (2010) investigated the effect of logistics sector on economic growth for Henan region in China in a period between 1978 and 2008, and they found that logistics sector has a significant role on economic growth. In Yuan and Kuang’s (2010) study, the effect of developments in logistics sector on economic growth was studied for central, east, and west regions of China. The results showed that development of logistics sector has fundamental impacts on economic growth, however, there were differences among the regions. Accordingly, whereas logistics infrastructure has more important role on economic growth in more developed regions, its contribution to economic growth are fewer in less developed regions. Hu et al.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to an evaluation of the inland transportation and its effect on logistics in Nigeria
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on an evaluation of the inland transportation and its effect on logistics in Nigeria. 200 staff of ministry of transportation, Lagos state were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain an evaluation of the inland transportation and effect on logistics in Nigeria.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations are made, which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefit in addressing the challenges of inland transportation and effect on logistics in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on an evaluation of the inland transportation and effect on logistics in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To evaluate the extent of Government commitment to the development of inland water transport in Nigeria, to ascertain the relationship between the inland transportation and effect on logistics, to ascertain the effect of inland transportation on Nigeria economy. In line with these objectives, three research hypotheses were formulated and three null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of ministry of transportation, Lagos state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up directors, marine officers, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
In the introduction to this paper, the urgency of significant combination of inland waterways in Lagos state was pointed out. Logistics will play a critical role in the recovery of the inland waterways sector and economy as well. International and domestic trade, which will have a major impact and will in fact be one of the drivers of economic growth, will depend to a large extent on the availability of infrastructure alongside the River Nile. The greatest obstacle for development or change is not admitting the need for it. Since the Lagosians authorities, companies and logisticians seem to be aware of the problems and challenges which need to be solved, developing an efficient logistics inland waterways system should not be difficult for these parties. However the key question is whether there is a serious interest in overcoming these challenges or not before it is too late. Logistics can potentially become the most important source of cost and quality advantages available to companies in
Recommendation
There is need to ensure that there are functional social amenities in the coastal region of the country. As we know, the water ways does not require intensive expenditure to create water ways, compare to what is obtainable in construction of other modes counterparts like roads and railway. The area should be compensated in the area of provision of social amenities like steady electricity, pure water for drinking and other. This will not only attract investors in the region but will also boost the quality of life in the area. These have a way of increase the market and industrialization of the area and in turn make IWT transport more viable and profitable.
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