Transport Sector Survey

LINKS commissioned Dalberg, a reputed international consultancy firm and LINKS partner, to study the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the transport sector covering 11 routes from trading centres in the North, bringing goods to the South and involving 150 logistics services providers between May and June 2020.

In the early days of the pandemic, lockdown and restrictions imposed by the States and Federal Government caused severe disruptions to the distribution of agricultural inputs and farm produce that threatened food security for millions of Nigerians.

Federal rules on interstate movement was not being properly applied making it exceedingly difficult for trade and inland logistics operators to get essential goods to the people who needed them most.

Key findings included:

  • Government mandated free passage of the much-needed essential items including food, perishable goods, livestock, and farm supplies is being ignored by security agencies on the roads;
  • Truckers pay an average of seven bribes at checkpoints across each route;
  • Delays at checkpoints add up to 68% to journey time; and
  • The total number of trips completed across the routes decreased by almost half.

We are working with governments at both state and federal levels and industry players to design and implement data-driven solutions, as well as leverage digital technology to loosen supply chain bottlenecks and reduce transport costs.

COVID- 19 Response

Project implementation in these unprecedented times is challenging for all of us in Nigeria, but it presents new opportunities as well. As part of LINKS response to the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, we have taken a number of initiatives