Towards Efficient Transport Connectivity for Sustainable Market Patronage in Nigeria

Abstract

Market centre and transportation system are inseparable land-uses.  The success or failure of one makes or mar the other. This paper aims at examining how the transport situation in Osun State has affected the market patronage of farm products in the State. The use of sample technique, observation method and road inventory survey were employed. Out of the 253 registered market centres in the state, 60 of them were selected for survey. This represents 23.7%. The selection was done by picking two market centres from the existing 30 local government areas in the state; one from the local government headquarters and the other ones randomly selected by ballot from the remaining market centres in the local governments. Major findings reveal the existence of large range of goods and services in the existing 253 registered market centres which are in their hierarchy of specialization. Other findings include poor road net-work and bad condition of roads which compelled market patrons to use motorcycle as their major mode of transport.. A large numbers of market centres and even towns were found ‘unconnected’ by Direct Motor-able Routes (DMR). Recommendation include imploring government to open-up more roads, supplying more commercial buses, introduction of empowering programmed and lastly adoption of  public–private-participation in road construction and management.