Assessment of Passenger Safety Perception in Informal Public Transportation in Lokoja-Okene Road Transport Network, Kogi State, Nigeria

Informal public transport, as a mode of transportation, offers flexibility to users by allowing them to ac-cess services conveniently. However, its mode of operation poses significant challenges, particularly re-garding safety, thereby undermining the core objective of ensuring safe travel. This study employs a sur-vey research design to investigate passengers' safety perceptions in informal public transport along the Lokoja-Okene transport corridor. A total of 300 questionnaires were purposefully distributed among commuters using the Lokoja-Okene transport network, with 255 valid responses analyzed using frequen-cies and percentages. The relationship between passenger safety and factors influencing it was analysed using multiple regression analysis. The findings identified eight key factors affecting passenger safety, in-cluding vehicle condition (37.5%), driver driving behavior (41.9%), poor road conditions (57.7%), over-loading (42.6%), and driver operational behaviour (46%). Furthermore, a statistically significant relation-ship was established between passenger safety and factors such as driver behavior, operational practices, and vehicle condition, which were found to influence passengers' safety perceptions positively. In conclu-sion, informal public transport operations along the Lokoja-Okene road network are deemed highly un-safe. The study recommends, among other measures, that Kogi State Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) implement mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles operating in informal public transport along this route.