Assessing the adoption of barcode payment systems in Nigeria's transportation sector: An empirical study

Nigeria’s transportation sector relies heavily on cash payments regardless of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s New Quick Response (NQR) initiative to unify QR code schemes in 2021. The adoption of barcode payment systems, also known as Quick Response (QR) code payments in Nigeria's transportation sector remains low despite the introduction of the New Quick Response (NQR) payment solution by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of barcode payment systems among road travelers in Nigeria. A survey of 500 road travelers was conducted using a structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The independent variables considered were cost, convenience, security, simplicity of use, and awareness. The regression model revealed that simplicity of use, convenience, security, and awareness were significant predictors of adoption, while cost had a positive but statistically insignificant effect. The study highlights that while awareness of barcode payment systems is relatively high (70%), actual adoption is low (30%). These findings suggest that despite awareness efforts, more focused interventions are required to address barriers such as security concerns and user experience. Future research could explore the adoption of barcode payment systems in other sectors and examine the role of government policies in promoting digital payments. This study contributes to the understanding of technology adoption in Nigeria’s transportation sector, with practical implications for policymakers, transportation operators, and financial institutions aiming to enhance the use of digital payment systems.