An Assessment of the Contributions of Road Transport to Environmental Pollution in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria
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- May 28, 2025
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Agwu, Jacob Parkins
Department of Geography, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Nigeria
Citations – APA
| Agwu, J. P. (2025). An Assessment of the Contributions of Road Transport to Environmental Pollution in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria. International Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 8(1), 1-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15532926 |
Abstract
This study assessed the contributions of road transport to environmental pollution in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria with a view to proffering adequate measures in tackling these problems in the study area. Specific objectives of the study included to identify the various types and sources of environmental pollution arising from road transport and its prevalence in Enugu Metropolis; analyze the factors that contribute to the continued environmental pollution arising from road transport in the study location; analyze the consequences of environmental pollution emanating from road transport within the metropolis; and make adequate recommendations to curb the menace of environmental pollution arising from road transport in the study area. The study adopted the survey research design which facilitated reach to all respondents. Stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques was adopted and a total number of 399 respondents were selected for the study. Well-structured questionnaires, interview and personal observation facilitated in the gathering of information. Collected data were presented and analyzed using tables, percentages, means and the hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square test. The study revealed that air pollution was more prevalent in the study area followed by noise pollution; land/soil pollution; waste pollution and water pollution. The study also revealed that the sources of air pollution as occasioned by road transport include emission of gases from combustion engines; burning of damaged motor parts among others, for noise pollution: loud horning sound from vehicles; vibration of vehicles; noise from road construction equipment and among others; water pollution: waste oil from crankcases at mechanic workshops; dumping of damaged motor parts in water bodies and among other; for land pollution: illegal littering of refuse from commuters on the ground; illegal dumping of damaged motor parts on the ground and waste oil from crankcases at mechanic workshop while waste pollution sources included waste from commuters and waste from damaged motor parts. The study also found that ageing and ill maintained Tokunbo cars; lower fuel quality; growing need to move people and goods; high use of private vehicles; use of high emission engine vehicles; absence of appropriate road traffic among others contributed to the continued environmental pollution arising from road transport in Enugu Metropolis. From the study, it was revealed that health concerns (breathing problems, swollen eyes, frustration and anxiety and skin diseases); loss of aesthetic value of the urban environment and indiscriminate littering of refuse on the urban environment among others constituted the consequences of road transport induced pollution in Enugu Metropolis. The study through thorough analysis revealed that designating and expanding green spaces in urban areas; promote electric, hybrid and natural gas vehicles; implement and improve air quality legal frameworks; reinforce traffic policies and restrictions and good transportation management system among others were viable measures in tackling road transport induced pollution. Result from the hypothesis show that the consequences of environmental pollution arising from road transport are statistically significant in Enugu Metropolis as the p value was (.001) was less than the significance level (α) of 0.05. The major recommendation of this study highlights that the outright banning of the use of high carbon emitting vehicles will go a long in curbing environmental pollution. This will lead to attitudinal change on the negative actions that result to pollution thereby making Enugu Urban liveable, enjoyable to live, work and recreate.
Keywords: Road Transport; Environment; Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Land/Soil Pollution; Noise Pollution; Waste Pollution; Enugu Metropolis