Stakeholders in Africa’s transport sector have called for a shift from infrastructure-heavy thinking to service-oriented transport management, warning that poor service delivery continues to undermine productivity, investment returns and urban competitiveness across the continent.
The call was made at the virtual launch of ‘Transport Services Management in Africa’, a new Routledge publication unveiled by the Transport Services and Development Initiative (TRATSEDI).
The book, edited by professors Emmanuel Mogaji and Ogochukwu Ugboma alongside Dr Chinebuli Uzondu, presents an African-led perspective on transport as an economic service shaped by governance, institutions, technology and user behaviour, rather than simply physical infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, Mogaji said Africa’s mobility crisis carries high hidden economic costs, including lost working hours, reduced access to markets, safety risks and environmental damage. He noted that while governments continue to invest heavily in roads, rail and terminals, weak service management limits the economic value of such investments.
“Transport services determine how people access jobs, education and healthcare and how efficiently cities function. Without effective service management, infrastructure alone cannot deliver productivity gains,” he said.
The publication explores how better service design, regulation and innovation can unlock value in Africa’s transport sector, attract private capital and improve returns on public spending.
Drawing on case studies from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, Ibadan and Luanda, the book examines digitalisation, informal transport integration, safety, equity and environmental sustainability within rapidly-growing urban economies.
Ugboma described the book as a bridge between policy, research and practice, stressing that fragmented governance and weak oversight continue to constrain transport efficiency across African cities.
He said evidence-based service reforms are critical to reducing congestion and improving business confidence in the sector.
Uzondu cautioned against the uncritical adoption of foreign transport models, arguing that Africa’s informal economies and demographic realities require locally-grounded solutions.
According to him, transport systems that ignore local context often fail to deliver sustainable commercial and social outcomes.
A goodwill message by Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, underscored the economic importance of efficient mobility systems in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
He said Lagos is prioritising integrated, multimodal transport, digital innovation and private sector participation to reduce congestion and improve accessibility.
Osiyemi described the book as a timely resource for policymakers, operators and investors seeking to improve service quality and economic performance in urban transport systems.
Contributing authors at the launch shared insights on commercially relevant issues, including managing conflicts in paratransit operations, integrating informal transport systems in Luanda, promoting active mobility in secondary cities in Namibia, and using smart technologies to improve commuter satisfaction in Lagos.
