ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE VULNERABILITY AND URBAN MOBILITY
SAFETY RISKS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIAN CITIESSALISU Umar Obafemi, PhD¹*, NALAILA Stephano, PhD²,
& AKANMU Ayobami Ademola, PhD³
¹Department of Transport Management, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
²Department of Education and Teaching, Mzumbe University-Morogoro, Tanzania
³Department of Transport Planning and Management, The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki,
Nigeria
*Corresponding author: umar.salisu@ouagoiwoye.edu.ng
Abstract
Road infrastructure vulnerability and urban mobility safety risks have emerged as critical challenges confronting cities in Southwestern Nigeria, where rapid urbanisation, increasing motorisation and inadequate investment in transport infrastructure continue to undermine safe, efficient and sustainable urban mobility. This study assessed the nature of road infrastructure vulnerability, examined associated urban mobility safety risks and identified priority measures for mitigating these risks across selected Southwestern Nigerian cities. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted using a structured electronic questionnaire administered through convenience sampling. Out of 1,671 respondents, 1,267 (76%) completed the survey and were retained for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, weighted mean analysis, and ranking techniques. The findings revealed that potholes, eroded road shoulders, inadequate drainage systems, flood-prone road segments, and narrow or capacity-deficient carriageways constitute the most prevalent forms of road infrastructure vulnerability across the study area. These deficiencies compromise urban mobility by disrupting traffic operations, reducing roadway capacity, increasing vehicle conflicts and exposing pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users to heightened safety risks. The study further identified critical mobility safety risks associated with both infrastructural and behavioural factors, including drivers swerving to avoid potholes, speeding, risky overtaking, unsafe lane and carriageway crossing, roadway encroachment by informal activities, infrastructure vandalisation and inadequate pedestrian facilities. Respondents identified comprehensive pavement rehabilitation, improved drainage and street lighting, provision of safe pedestrian infrastructure, strengthened road safety education, enhanced traffic law enforcement and improved institutional coordination as the most effective measures for reducing mobility safety risks. The study concludes that addressing urban mobility safety risks in Southwestern Nigerian cities requires an integrated, infrastructure-led and evidence-based transport planning approach that combines resilient road infrastructure investment with effective governance, proactive maintenance, behavioural interventions, and coordinated institutional management. The findings provide valuable empirical evidence for transport policy formulation, infrastructure investment prioritisation, and road safety planning aimed at improving urban resilience and fostering safer, more inclusive and sustainable mobility systems in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 9 and 11.
Keywords: Road infrastructure vulnerability, urban mobility safety, road safety, transport planning, sustainable mobility, Southwestern Nigeria