Determinants of Inter-port Competition： A Case of Coastal Ports in West Africa

Ports operating in the same geographical range face significant competition among them. In such setting, less competitive ports may continually lose patronage of shippers （indigenous to them） to adjacent ones with better attributes. The extent of and determinants of inter-port competition in the West Africa＇s coast are of interest to port administrators/operators who risk losing significant portion of their domestic generated cargo traffic to competing neighbouring ports. In this paper, we explore the question of what port specific attributes serve as competitive basis for West Africa＇s coastal ports operating in proximity to the other. Through a survey, users of these ports were asked to identify port specific attributes which they consider when deciding which port to use for shipments making. To enrich our empirical model, data collected from the survey were augmented with secondary data （on the identified attributes） obtained from the respective ports. Statistical evidence from data analysis suggests that ports operating in proximity in the West Africa＇s coast compete on the basis of attributes that minimise costs for port users, viz： ships＇ pre-berthiig time, ship turnround time, crane efficiency and availability of cargo spaces （proxied by frequency of ship calls）. Policy implications of the findings were discussed.

Analysis of Incremental Load Damaging Effects of Overloaded Trucks on Federal Highway Pavement Structures in Nigeria

The study is to assess the present serviceability rating of Nigerian highways and the load damage effects of overloaded trucks. The researchers used the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) methods. In this study, the highway section of Lokoja-Abuja, Ilorin-Jebba and Abakiliki-Ogoja via Mbok roads were selected, and data were collected through an axle-load survey, automatic traffic count and from secondary sources. The rate of gross vehicle weight violation was found, ranging from 20% to 94% of the axle load distribution across the studied network. Comparing the overloaded vehicle damage factor (V.D.F.) and standard V.D.F., the range was from 1.2 to 41.34 times across the road networks studied, and this explained why the pavement structures of Nigerian roads tend to deteriorate during its service life rapidly. Present serviceability rating was estimated at 3.45, 4.41 and 3.35 for Lokoja-Abuja, Ilorin-Jebba and Abakiliki-Ogoja roads respectively, showing depletion from their initial conditions. The damaging effects of the HGV are less severe at Lokoja-Abuja Road (with g = 0.30), followed by Ilorin-Jebba Road (with g = 0.35) and more in Abakiliki-Ogoja Road (with g = 0.43). The heaviest overload of 94% of the 6-axle vehicles plying at the Lokoja-Abuja road could explain this intense damaging effect on the road pavement

Performance Assessment of Motorcycle Operation, as a Means of Urban Mobility in Lokoja, Nigeria

Motorcycles contribute significantly to the number of automobiles on the roads in Lokoja, Nigeria. This scenario is attributable to pitiable public transport supply and bad roads that are synonymous to the country Nigeria. Motorcycles are the major means of urban mobility in Lokoja due to the fact that the available taxies within the town operate within a designed route only (Felele-Army Barrack and Ganaja-Felele, vice-versa). The situations have led to high increases in the number of motorcycle operators and patronages in Lokoja. To this fact, the paper assessed motorcycle operation as means of urban mobility in Lokoja. The study was conducted using questionnaires and field observation to collect the required data. Data were also collected from the Federal Road Safety Commission and Commercial Motorcycle Association of Nigeria, Lokoja to compliment the data collected from the commercial motorcycle operators and passengers in the study area. The weekly records of movement were sourced from Okada Riders Association in Lokoja. A total of 1125 commercial operators and 4000 commuters were arrived, while 10% of the populations were sampled. Altogether 113 commercial motorcycle operators and 400 passengers were sampled respectively and this amounted to 513 samples. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were employed in the data analysis. Findings revealed that unemployment situation in the state have led many people, particularly the youth, into the commercial motorcycle operation in the city and the ability to provide door-to-door service have made many people patronize commercial motorcycle in the area. On this note, Government should create more job opportunities, introduce the use of three wheel cycles and improve on the operational efficiencies of city taxies which will go a long way in reducing road accidents and thus reducing the influx of commercial motorcycles.

Modelling of Pre-Sex Selection: An Effective Method for Family Planning and Control of Overpopulation

Every couple would want to have balanced sex of babies and a given number of children. But in reality, most couples do not achieve it. Some end up bearing particular sex of baby, this has caused a lot of pressure and untold hardship for couples. In Nigeria, the preference for a son is so strong that any family that does not have a son does not belong. The reason for the preference is mainly for economic and continuation of family lineage. Inability to bear the desired sex of a baby makes couples bear more children than they could cater for. This has caused poverty, overpopulation and reduces life expectancy for many families in Nigeria. In this paper, we have developed a model that will help couples select the desired sex of their babies and avoid unwanted pregnancies. The method is easy to apply whether educated or not. The application of the method will help to reduce family-based violence due to imbalanced sex of babies.

Performance Evaluation of Terminal Airspace System Safety, Delay and Predictability of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria

This paper outlines a multi-dimensional user-oriented performance metrics approach in evaluating the operation of the terminal airspace system to aid in the airport and airspace planning and decision making. Safety, delay and predictability metrics contribute to the analytical framework. From the findings, the occurrence of air incidence has a high severity level at departure, and arrival phases of flight, higher likelihood at the radar room and much of the incidences were as a result of faulty equipment and inherent absence of modern airspace infrastructure. Also, in Lagos terminal airspace, the number of incidences has no close correlation with the level of traffic complexity. Total schedule arrival delay ranges from 1 - 392 minutes representing an average of 7.8 - 17.9 minutes per aircraft that arrived Lagos airport at that period. Besides, the total approach contact time ranges from 1 - 57 minutes, translating to 4.6 - 7.1 minutes per aircraft. However, variability in arrival time of 1 - 5 minutes is common from published airline arrival scheduled time. In the same vein, the variability of 1 - 5 minutes is common from approach contact times of aircraft. These figures indicate sound arrival predictability signature for Lagos airport. Also, departure time variability above 30 minutes is familiar from the ATC clearance time for the various routes under study. However, there is about or more 25% variability of more than 15 minutes, and this indicates possible inconsistency of predicting departure times from the times Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance was acquired. Above all, the predictability of departure times in Lagos airport is weak compared to those of the arrival. Taken by it, this may be a sign of airspace congestion or ATC deficiencies at the Lagos airport. This is an indication of the lack of users’ confidence in Nigeria’s air transport industry to deliver just-in-time service.

Evaluating the Drivers of Airlines Profitability in Nigeria Domestic Network

A firm’s profitability is critical to its competitiveness and sustainability. This research looked at the elements that influence airline profitability in Nigeria. From 2005 to 2019, two airlines were picked, and their data were retrieved from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). From estimated quarterly panel data using E-views 8 and SPSS 22, the overall findings of the regression study demonstrate that with ROA used as a proxy for profitability, the R-square is 83.6 per cent and 89.4 per cent, respectively for Aero contractors and Medview airline, representing 83.6 per cent and 89.4 per cent of the changes in profitability of the Aero contractors and Medview in the sample, respectively, could be explained by changes in the study’s independent variables, namely growth, liquidity, leverage, lease, tangibility, fuel cost and personnel cost. Besides the total of the explanatory variables, growth, leverage and tangibility are statically significant at a 5% level of significant Aero Contractors. Growth, leverage, leasing cost, fuel cost, and staff cost, on the other hand, are statistically significant at the 5% level of significance for Medview airlines. Profiteering, expansion, leverage, and tangibility are the primary activities of any airline firm. Lease cost, fuel cost, and staff cost show a statistically significant positive link with the profitability metric ROA. As a result, stakeholders of Nigerian airlines should prioritize profitability over other criteria in this study. Airline executives should do a comprehensive analysis of all potential elements impacting their company’s profitability in the literature, including aspects other than economic variables. According to the findings of this study, political issues account for a greater proportion of the reasons why airlines fail in Nigeria.

Empirical Study of Parameters of Airlines Sustainability in Nigerian Domestic Network

Sustainability was investigated in the ability to reliably anticipate airline market share, which is critical for effective business strategy. As a result, a model was created to address the issue of airline market share across all Nigerian airport routes. The model took into account the explanatory variables average fares paid by various airlines passengers, number of competitors at each route, frequency of flight, and the total number of enplaned passengers. The model illustrated how it may be used to determine an airline’s sustainability. It was observed that all of the parameters in the model were statistically significant and exhibited the predicted signs. As a result, the market share of Nigerian airlines can assess the sustainability of Nigerian airlines. As a result, it is proposed that the federal government and aviation regulatory bodies provide a level playing field to all commercial airline operators, without any kind of protectionism. Airlines’ services should be completely deregulated, and the forces of perfect market competition should drive the airline’s overall health. The government should provide a fair and supportive climate for airline operators as soon as possible. The ease of doing airline business must be implemented honestly and competitively. The degree of competition has a detrimental impact on the airline’s market share, especially if the airline operates in a regulated market. As a result, perfect competition for the airline should be promoted.

Performance Evaluation of Motor Insurance Companies: Panel Data Evidence from Nigeria

This paper evaluated performance of motor insurance companies in Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the following: 1) significant effects of claims settlements on motor insurance firms’ earned premium;2) differences in managerial/technological capabilities among the companies and 3) effects of policy (or time effect) on insurance firms’ output within the study period. Panel data obtained for this study comprised operational data on premium earned and direct claims settlement by these companies over a period of six (6) years. Using panel data statistical models, we found that direct claims settlement negatively affected insurance companies’ earned premium. Also, significant differences in technological and managerial capabilities were found to exist among the companies, though only one company exhibited this heterogeneity. Besides, there were no policy impacts (or time effect) on vehicle insurance firms’ output in the study period. Policy implications of the results were discussed.

Propulsion Shaft and Gearbox Failure in Marine Vessels: A Duration Model Analysis

The need to mitigate downtime in marine vessels arising from propulsion system failures has led ship operating companies to devote enormous resources for research based solutions. This paper applied duration models to determine failure probabilities of shaft and gearbox systems in service boats. Using dockyard’s event history data on boat repairs and maintenance, we applied Kaplan Meier hazard and survival curves to analyse probability of failure of shaft and gearbox systems in supply, crew and tug boats. We found that average time to shaft and gearbox failure was 8.33, 5.23 and 5.21 months for tug, supply and crew boats respectively. The hazard plots however, showed that supply boats had higher probability of failure than crew boats and then tug boats in that order. Further analysis using Cox regression model showed that the boats’ shaft and gearbox system failures were significantly affected by level of lubrication oil, stress corrosion cracking and impacts on the propulsion system’s components. The paper proposes that design of maintenance schedules for service boats should take the following into consideration: 1) estimated survival limits or failure times of propulsion system’s shaft and gearboxes, 2) significant risk factors that affect failure mode of the propulsion system components.

A Business Ecosystem＇s Model for Harnessing Nigeria＇s Ocean Economy

The reassessment of ocean economy contribution of nations has become a new strategy for frontier states adjacent to the coastal region for the improvement of their position in the efficiency frontier curve. The continuity of a coastal state to remain a leader in the production and efficiency frontier curve of modem day development will thus depend on their ability to sustainably develop their most strategic economic resource base such as the ocean economy. The major economic bases include sustainable fishing, offshore oil field developments, offshore biodiversity development and marine biotechnology, offshore mining of manganese nodules, offshore wind farm potentials, international shipping （marine transport） and adjoining corridor development, ship dry docking potentials, marine renewable energy as well as other potentials outlined in the definition of African Union strategy for the development of her blue economy. Adopting the regression analysis and analysis of variance analytical tools, the study found that about 90% association exist between the GDP （gross domestic product） of the West African state （Nigeria） and her GDP. It equally found that offshore oil and gas energy sector more significantly impact on the GDP of Nigeria than other ocean economy business clusters. Given the various contributing marine environment business cluster used in the work, the model depicting the influence of the ocean economy of Nigeria is： Y = 2295334779895 - 294733（1 ＋ 3436995749 - 59276863（2 ＋ e.

Investigating unsafe behaviours in traffic conflict situations:An observational study in Nigeria

Although road users are aware of the possible risks of engaging in unsafe behaviours while driving,they continue to do so.These behaviours often contribute to traffic incidents and crashes involving them and other road users.This study set out to analyse the effect of road user type,location and time of day on unsafe driving behaviours observed in traffic conflict situations.Data were collected by road side observation at three different locations in the eastern part of Nigeria using the traffic conflict technique(TCT).This approach was adopted to overcome the inherent problems associated with reliable,inadequate and accessible crash data in Nigeria.In total 946 traffic conflicts were observed and statistical testing showed that drivers were involved in one or more unsafe behaviours prior to these conflicts.Of all unsafe behaviours observed,the incorrect use of indicators(13.3%) and tailgating(11.3%) were found to be the most prevalent,while road user type,location and time of day were found to be statistically associated with passenger scouting and other unsafe behaviours.Tricycle drivers were significantly more likely to engage in unsafe behaviours than vehicle drivers.Drivers are also more likely to engage in unsafe behaviours on straight roads.Additionally,a greater number of these unsafe behaviours were observed during the peak periods.It is recommended that better road infrastructure,more effective regulations and enforcement,and proper road safety education could help improve traffic safety in Nigeria.