Maritime Transport Accessibility Challenges in Nigeria's Niger Delta Region and the Impact On Socio-Economic Development in the Region

This study assesses the challenges facing maritime transport and their socio-economic impact in the Niger Delta region. Utilizing a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the willing to Accept (WTA) method of the Contingent valuation Method (CVM), the research identifies four determinant challenges: infrastructural deficiencies, safety and security concerns (maritime insecurity and accidents), hazards of marine environmental pollution, and inadequate implementation of regulatory standards and policies. These factors collectively account for 67.7% of the variance in maritime transport challenges. The study reveals significant economic costs borne by various productive populations due to inefficient maritime transport systems. Crop farmers incur an average economic loss of N2,692,000/capita/year, fishery and aquaculture operators N2,707,000/capita/year, traders N3,229,000/capita/year, and service providers N2,736,000/capita/year, with an overall average loss of N2,841,000/capita/year. The findings underscore the critical need for targeted policy interventions focusing on infrastructure development, strengthening maritime security, environmental protection, and robust regulatory enforcement to enhance maritime transport efficiency and foster socio-economic development in the Niger Delta region.