Urban Freight Transport

Abstract

Freight transport is an integral part of urban system. The functioning of urban centres requires among other things efficient freight transport. This is because urban centres are characterized by high concentration of people, land uses, and activities. When people and activities interact together between and among various land uses, they generate and attract traffic along transport channels. The flow generated or attracted can be grouped into vehicles, passengers and freight. However, over the years, it has been observed that adequate attention has not been given to urban freight transport by urban policy makers, researchers, and planner and managers. This chapter therefore provides salients information and raises issues and challenges of planning and managing freight transport in Nigerian cities. Based on the review, the paper recommends that there should be increase of government attention in term of budgetary allocation for planning and development of freight transport in Nigerian cities.