Impact of Roadside Hawking and Informal Curbside Activities on Traffic Management in Ibadan North, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Traffic management in Nigerian cities faces increasing disruption from informal roadside hawking and curbside activities, yet limited studies quantify their precise effects. This study examined the impact of roadside hawking and informal curbside activities on traffic management in Ibadan North Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State, Nigeria, while it specifically considered the roles of enforcement visibility, infrastructure adequacy, driver compliance culture, and peak-hour conditions on traffic management. A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents comprising drivers/park management officials, hawkers, and commuters. The data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships. The results indicate that roadside hawking (β = -0.42, p = 0.001) and informal curbside activities (β = -0.36, p = 0.004) significantly reduced traffic management effectiveness by obstructing road space and creating unsafe conditions. In contrast, enforcement visibility (β = 0.31, p = 0.003) and infrastructure adequacy (β = 0.28, p = 0.006) were found to improve outcomes. Driver compliance culture emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.39, p = 0.002), mediating the effects of enforcement (β = 0.26) and infrastructure (β = 0.22). Peak periods worsened disruptions, with hawking (β = -0.19) and curbside activity (β = -0.17) exerting stronger negative impacts. The study concludes that compliance culture is central to sustainable traffic control. It recommends an enhanced enforcement, enhanced kerbside facilities, compliance-based interventions, and peak-period management, as well as designated vending zones to strike a balance between livelihoods and mobility efficiency.