Transport And Communications 2025, 13(2):16-21 | DOI: 10.26552/tac.C.2025.2.3
Assessing the Effect of Road Conditions on Police Response in Nigeria
- 1 Department of Geography, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria
The quick response of the police to emergency calls can save lives and property. However, one key factor that affects police emergency response time, with limited focus in the literature, is the effect of the poor condition of the road. Thus, this study aims to examine the effect of poor road conditions on the response of the Nigeria Police to emergency calls in Ijebu-North Local Government Area (INLGA), Ogun State, Nigeria. The study is based on the range concept of the Central Place Theory. Data on the locational coordinates of three (3) police stations, sixty-five (65) identified settlements, and road networks in INLGA were obtained from topographic maps. The p-median and maximal covering location models were used for data analysis. The study showed that the average emergency travel time of the police can be reduced by 33.01% if the poor roads, in the study area, are improved. It was also shown that emergency response time, by the police, to the farthest settlement can be reduced by 55.47 percent if the poor roads are fixed. The study also revealed that 27.7 percent of all settlements can be covered by the police within five minutes under the actual condition of the roads, and this can be increased to 30.77 percent assuming all roads are in good condition. The study further revealed that total coverage of settlements can be achieved within 45 minutes under the actual road condition and within 20 minutes if the roads’ condition is improved. The study demonstrated that the response of the police to emergency calls will be improved if the poor roads are fixed; consequently, citizens' protection and the state of security in the Country will improve.
Keywords: Emergency Service, Police, Maximal Covering Location Problem, Network Analysis, Road Condition
JEL classification: H54, R41, R42
Received: December 21, 2025; Revised: December 23, 2025; Accepted: December 27, 2025; Published: December 31, 2025 Show citation
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