FUL Hosts 30th Inaugural Lecture on Transport Planning and Nigeria’s Urban Challenges

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) on Thursday hosted its 30th Inaugural Lecture, the 28th under the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi.

The lecture was delivered by Professor Adetunji Muslimu Adeyinka, a renowned scholar of transport geography and urban studies.

Titled “Unplanned Cities: Dilemma of Transport Planning and Development in Nigeria,” the lecture examined the paradoxes, challenges, and prospects of Nigeria’s transport system, with particular focus on the country’s road-dominated culture.

In his remarks, Professor Akinwumi, who served as Chief Host, described the lecture as timely in light of Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation. He urged the audience to pay close attention, noting that the discourse would deepen understanding of both the benefits and pitfalls of Nigeria’s current urban growth. The Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to God for the continuous impact of the Inaugural Lecture Series in enriching scholarship and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to knowledge-driven development.

Professor Adeyinka, the first inaugural lecturer from the newly established Faculty of Environmental Science and the second from the Department of Geography since the inception of the university, delivered an engaging discourse. He explored key questions in transport geography: What moves? Where does it move to? Why does it move?

Drawing from extensive research across Nigerian states, he lamented the contradictions in Nigeria’s road system. Although over 80% of the nation’s transport is road-based and billions of naira are spent annually on infrastructure, many highways remain plagued by potholes, contributing to frequent accidents and loss of lives.

He stressed the importance of a sustainable maintenance culture, highlighting how pedestrian-friendly sidewalks enhance safety while poor drainage management worsens flooding and road hazards. Citing findings from Lokoja, he revealed that 36% of respondents admitted they had never engaged in drainage maintenance—an alarming statistic. “Whether Nigeria is good or bad, we all have a part to play,” he remarked, calling for collective responsibility in safeguarding urban infrastructure.

The lecturer criticised the overreliance on motorcycles, tricycles, and minibuses, which he described as unsafe and unsustainable for long-term urban mobility. He noted that unplanned cities often compel residents to travel distances far beyond the global benchmark of 5km for access to basic amenities, thereby compounding inefficiencies.

Professor Adeyinka further warned that the deteriorating state of Nigerian roads not only impedes mobility but also creates corridors of insecurity exploited by bandits and kidnappers. He, however, commended Professor Akinwumi’s proactive leadership in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria, which he described as a visionary step toward capacity-building in the sector. The agreement, he explained, will empower motorists, workers, and citizens through the Centre for Transport Management and Logistics Studies at FUL.

The well-attended event, held at the Adankolo Campus auditorium, drew principal officers of the university, eminent scholars, invited guests, and well-wishers who celebrated Professor Adeyinka’s scholarship and contributions to national discourse on transport and urban planning.