Transportation network as an impetus for economic activities: a case study of Agrarian Funtua Region in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between the transportation network and industries of the agrarian Funtua region in Katsina State. It was prompted by the abandonment of the proposed project of establishment and operation of Container Freight Station/Inland Depot in Funtua by Nigeria’s government, which generates a lot of concern to the people of the region. The project that was perhaps initially proposed due to strategic location of Funtua in relation to location of other towns in the northwestern geo-political zone and beyond as well as the presence of rail and road networks. GPS Device was used to record the coordinate points of identified industries. The rail lines and the roads locations in the study area were obtained from Google Earth that was used as a base map. Relevant information about productivity of the industries was obtained from supervisors and personnel mangers of the industries by administration of questionnaire and key informant technique. Kilometer Chart, diagram of rail line system were acquired from principal officers of Nigerian Railway Corporation in Zaria and Funtua stations. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to compare the freightage of agro-allied commodities by rail and by road. The study found out and concluded that the identified industries were found to be within ≤30 m in relation to transportation network in Funtua, except four sophisticated agro-processing industries. The agro-based industries will make about 26% slash of their freight costs if their commodities were to be transported by rail in comparison to roads. The study recommended that governments at all levels should exhibit earnest concern about maintenance and construction of rail and road infrastructure due to their enormous advantages to economic activities.