Towards quasi - formal management of paratransit in informal transport dependent cities of Nigeria

Abstract

Most city authorities in paratransit dependent urban centres are inclined towards formalization of public transport operations, perceivably as a way of excluding informality and bringing sanity and control to the sector. Such city authorities do not seem to recognize the contribution of paratransit to the enhancement of mobility and accessibility, even when capacity to formalize or regulate public transportation is grossly lacking. Several failed attempts at radical transformation of paratransit in such environments are attested to within available literature. The situation is further compounded by derailments suffered from spirited resistance to radical transformation by thousands of operators in the sector. The manifest consequences include ineffective mobility, reduced productivity, unlevel playing field, underutilized formal transit, if any, and other forms of economic and social losses. Against this backdrop, a shift in thinking towards non radical techniques of supervising paratransit operations in paratransit dependent cities is suggested. Overt institutional control should begin to give way to covert participation and supervision. This is necessary because the paratransit sector have for decades proven to be a veritable mobility option in paratransit dependent cities. Hence, the real challenge is in finding ways of harnessing advantages and mitigating disadvantages inherent in paratransit operations. It is believed that by moving away from the problematic formalization and laissez – faire postures commonly adopted by authorities of paratransit dependent cities, quasi – formal management approaches may offer room for reasonable supervision to take effect.