Transport And Communications 2025, 13(2):22-26 | DOI: 10.26552/tac.C.2025.2.4

Packages and Parcels Delivery by Inter-City Informal Transport Service Operators in Ogun State, Nigeria

Dimeji R. Sonde1, Abdulwazil, O. Imam2, Olamide, E. Fabiyi3, Victor A. Ogundele4
1 Department of Transport Management, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria
2 Department of Geography and Environmental Education, Lagos State University of Education, Nigeria
3 Department of Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Salford (Manchester)
4 Department of Transport Management, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria

The study investigates the impact of Person-to-Person (P2P) package and parcel delivery via informal public transportation in Nigeria, which dominates inter/intra-urban mobility in developing countries. A concerning trend is the unchecked dispatch of parcels through informal means, such as parks, without proper verification by drivers or their agents. To examine this, a multi-stage sampling approach was used: the population was first stratified into drivers and commuters, then snowball sampling identified those with relevant experiences, and purposive random sampling was employed for questionnaire distribution. Findings show that most drivers rely solely on senders’ verbal declarations about parcel contents, enabling the smuggling of illegal substances. Respondents generally agreed that P2P package delivery negatively affects society. ANOVA results revealed a statistically significant relationship (p = 0.000 < 0.05), and the R-square value of 77% indicates a strong explanatory power of the model on illegal substance movement. The null hypothesis was rejected, confirming that informal parcel delivery poses societal risks. The study concludes that informal transport services facilitate smuggling and recommends that drivers conduct physical checks on parcels before transportation to mitigate the risks associated with unverified deliveries.

Keywords: Package/Parcel delivery, Informal Transport, P2P delivery, Illegal goods
JEL classification: L91, L92, R4, R41

Received: September 7, 2025; Revised: December 19, 2025; Accepted: December 23, 2025; Published: December 31, 2025  Show citation

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Sonde, D.R., Imam, A.O., Fabiyi, O.E., & Ogundele, V.A. (2025). Packages and Parcels Delivery by Inter-City Informal Transport Service Operators in Ogun State, Nigeria. Transport And Communications, 13(2), 22-26. doi: 10.26552/tac.C.2025.2.4
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