THE ASSESSMENT OF THE REFERENCE OF LASTMA IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN LAGOS STATE

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Research questions

1.4        Objective of the study

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

CHAPETR TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 introduction

2.2 conceptual review

2.3 empirical review

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

Abstract

A city can only be as big as its transportation facilities can enable its people goes about their businesses, move and distribute their goods and services. In spite of these positive aspects of urban transportation system on one side of the coin, the other side of the coin reflects its negative impact that relate to traffic management and administration and road safety. The daily movement of people and freights within and outside the mega-city of LAGOS is becoming more difficult and complex. This is reflected in the increasing bumperto-bumper traffic being experienced in the mega-city of Lagos during 6.30 am – 11.30am morning peak hours and (3.00pm – 7.30 pm) evening peak hours. It now seems that traffic congestions are becoming forcefully acceptable excuses for workers being late to work in Lagos metropolis. One approach at solving this problem adopted by the Lagos State Government is traffic management through the establishment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). Traffic management could be regarded as a systematic and sustained effort on directing and controlling all traffics on our roads to make them free from negative effects of the transport system. The aim of this research work was to assess the impact of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) with particular reference on the efforts to reduce road traffic problems

       CHAPTER ONE

       INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Lagos, Nigeria has become a metropolitan area based on urban agglomeration. It requires advanced technology to improve management of its transportation system. Lagos is the largest City in Sub-Saharan Africa and the sixth largest City in the world, with a population of about 15 million, which grows at the rate of six (6) percent per annum (Mobereola, 2006). The rapid urbanization, increase in vehicular use, poor traffic management and bad road conditions, have given rise to poor mobility and other numerous transportation problems within Lagos metropolis. These problems have led to traffic congestions, loss of productivity, excessive fuel consumption, traffic incidents and pollution. The alleviation of these problems and those that affect traffic enforcement agents need to be addressed with ITS technology. Traffic management is the practice of managing the existing traffic environment to create avenue for free flow of traffic, to control and manage traffic proceedings.  Prior to 1999, the transport and vehicular traffic situation in Lagos State was in a state of neglect and confusion. There was terrible and high vehicle density in the state, studies carried out showed that that the vehicle density in the state is about “224 vehicles per km as against a national average of 15 vehicles per km of New York average of 24 vehicles per km with trams, trains, metro and waterways transportation” The resultant effect is the perennial road congestion with its attendant traffic logjam. According to LASTMA General Manager, Babatunde Edu, The situation of the Lagos roads before the establishment was frustrating, workers found it very difficult to get to their various working places at the normal time schedule, the situation even worsened when it rained because the traffic congestion would be doubled, compounded with the rough driving of the commuters; because of these problems, life was hectic and unbearable for most of workers in Lagos. Thus the condition many road users are faced with in Lagos was rather harrowing, begging for urgent government attention (Olasunkanmi, 2013).

Consequently, LASTMA was established and charged with the responsibility of ensuring the free flow of vehicular traffic in Lagos State in order to save journey time and improve the quality of life of Lagosians (Olasunkanmi, 2013).

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was established on the 15th of July, 2000 to control and manage traffic proceedings in Lagos state. According to an online source, the major purpose of creating LASTMA by the Lagos state government then under the authority of Governor Bola Hammed Tinubu was to develop a culture of orderly monitoring of road usage regulation and management of traffic operations state wide and to ensure free traffic flow on Lagos roads (Online/http:/www.wikil LASTMA/05/03/2013).

Additionally, LASTMA was established to make Lagos road safe and reduce to the barest minimum death, injuries and economic losses through road traffic accidents, congestion and delay by saving man hour wasted on public highway and ensure a sustainable economic growth in the state, also to ensure free flow of traffic for better social economic activities in the state. To reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses from road traffic accidents, conflicts, congestion and delays on the public highways in Lagos state by employing modern traffic management techniques and to inject order and control into the road traffic system (Atubi, 2006).

From the foregoing it is clear that the main duties or the main purpose for the establishment of LASTMA are; to develop a culture of orderly monitoring, road usage regulation and management of traffic operations state wide. To make Lagos roads are safe and reduce to the  barest minimum death, injuries and economic losses through road traffic accidents, congestion and delay by saving man hour wasted on public highway and ensure a sustainable economic growth in the state; to ensure free flow of traffic, for better social economic activities in the state (Oni, 2004).

The task before this research work, therefore, is to make an evaluation or an appraisal of the activities of LASTMA so far for the past years; has LASTMA really been able to achieve the purpose which it was created for? What are the obstacles LASTMA has been facing in the past years and what are the successes they have been able to achieve? All these questions are what would constitute the appraisal or the evaluation of LASTMA achievements as traffic management body in Lagos state.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Before LASTMA was established in Lagos the major problems on Lagos roads were; high traffic congestion, traffic log jam, high rate of road accidents, and poor driving culture of the motorist and the commuters or the road users in general. There was a poor observation of road rules and regulation, poor usage of the pedestrian bridge and so on. These problems resulted in several accidents and attendant loss of lives and limbs, loss of invaluable human hours in traffic and the attendant wear and tear in human and vehicular conditions. The problems also impacted negatively on business costs and efficiency and slowed down the socio-economic development of the state and country at large. These problems necessitated the establishment of LASTMA in 1999, so that heavy traffic jam in Lagos would be checked, to create avenue for free flow of vehicular traffic and to save time and improve the quality of life.

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has one objective which is broken down into specific and general objective, the general objective of this study focused on assessment of the preference of LASTMA in traffic management in Lagos state. The specific objectives are;

1. To ascertain the impact of LASTMA in effective traffic management in Lagos state
2. To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between LASTMA traffic management strategy and drivers driving culture

• To examine the role of LASTMA in effective traffic management in Lagos state

1. To proffer suggested solution to the identified problem
   • RESEARCH QUESTION

The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

1. Does LASTMA have any impact in effective traffic management in Lagos state
2. Is there any significant relationship between LASTMA traffic management strategy and drivers driving culture?

• Does LASTMA play any role in effective traffic management in Lagos state?
  • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion

H₀: There is no significant relationship between LASTMA traffic management strategy and drivers driving culture

H₁: There is a significant relationship between LASTMA traffic management strategy and drivers driving culture

H₀: LASTMA does not play any role in effective traffic management in Lagos state

H₂: LASTMA does play a role in effective traffic management in Lagos state

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the management of LASTMA as the study seek to explore adequate traffic management strategy as the study seek to explore the best strategy to enhanced effective traffic management in Lagos state. The study will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the findings will serve as a reference point to further study. The study will also be of great importance to researchers, student, teachers, students and the general public as the study will contribute to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to knowledge in the subject matter.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the assessment of the preference of LASTMA in traffic management in Lagos. But in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;

AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher have to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

• OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Traffic

Traffic on roads consists of road users including pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, buses and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel.

Management

Management is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a not-for-profit organization, or government body.

LASTMA

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority is a Lagos State-owned agency under the Ministry of Transportation. The agency was established on the 15th of July, 2000 to transform the state transportation system to ensure free flow of traffic in the state and also reduce road accidents.

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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