Theory question 103
Transport, Trade and TourismHighlight the relative contributions of roads and railways to national development in any country of your choice
Show the model answer
Nigeria (or any named country):
Roads: carry most passengers and freight; door-to-door service and flexibility; reach rural farm areas, opening them up; feed railways and ports; promote national integration (trunk roads Lagos-Kano, East-West road); create jobs (drivers, mechanics, transporters)
Railways: cheap carriage of bulky goods over long distances (groundnuts, cotton, cattle, coal, cement); linked producing areas to ports (Lagos-Kano, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri); helped growth of towns along the lines (Kaduna, Kafanchan, Zaria); safer and less congested
Overall: roads now contribute more because of flexibility, while railways remain important for heavy freight
Compare the two modes directly.