Transportation Planning and Infrastructure Development Challenges in Ibadan Metropolis

Ibadan Metropolis in Oyo State, one of Nigeria's oldest and most expansive cities in the South West geopolitical zone, faces chronic transportation deficiencies including severe road congestion, deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate public transit, and poorly integrated land use-transport planning that reduce economic productivity and quality of life for its estimated five million residents. This study assesses transportation planning challenges and infrastructure development priorities in Ibadan Metropolis, with a focus on the relationship between land use structure and transport demand patterns. Road network data from the Oyo State Ministry of Works were integrated with GIS-based traffic flow data from 24-hour manual counts at 18 major intersections to characterise network performance. Origin-destination travel surveys conducted with 600 transport users across the metropolis mapped commuter flow patterns and identified critical bottlenecks. Comparative analysis with transportation master plans from 2010 and 2018 assessed implementation progress and revised investment needs. Key informant interviews with urban planners, transport operators, and Oyo State Traffic Management Authority officials provided institutional context. Results confirm that Ibadan's road network is operating well beyond design capacity at key nodes, with intersection volume-to-capacity ratios exceeding 1.5 at several locations on the Ring Road and Challenge interchange. Public transit coverage is fragmented among unregulated minibus and tricycle operators with no formal route planning or safety standards. The study recommends adoption of an integrated land use-transport strategy, Bus Rapid Transit corridor development on three priority routes, and transport demand management measures for the central business district. Keywords: transportation planning, Ibadan, road network, public transit, South West Nigeria.