Characterization of Current Transportation Challenges in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

This study is concerned with current and emerging transportation problems in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. The major objective is to identify and characterize the main challenges confronting mobility in the capital territory and propose a viable institutional framework for effective transportation management in FCT. The study is based on information arising from field auditing and evaluation of Abuja Master Plan. Information on extent of implementation of the transportation plan, level of distortion to and deviations from the plan, observable anomalies in traffic management and bottlenecks to traffic flow, provision and conditions of transport furniture  and other relevant information from FCDA published materials provided the required data for the study. The study identifies the current challenges to include non-development of transit ways to major activity centres, emergence of illegal bus stations, poor parking facilities, absence of pedestrian walkways, widespread use of low-occupancy vehicles for public transport, city-wide traffic congestion, growth of squatter and shanty settlements, safety and administrative challenges. The study notes that the challenges are due to the inefficiency of the present institutional mechanism for managing transport in the city. Based on this premise, the study recommends the establishment of Abuja Area Transportation Authority as a sustainable transportation management strategy for FCT