Abstract:

The main objective of this study sought to proffer policy recommendations through which road transportation can be used positively to improve the standards of living and well-being of the rural populace in the study area. The study utilised primary data from four hundred and twenty respondents, using well-structured questionnaires on household heads in ten villages/settlements from five of the six Area Councils in the FCT, using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 25. The study employed descriptive and other quantitative techniques in the analysis and employed the Ordered Logistic (OL) model to test the hypotheses. The test of hypotheses of the impact of the independent variables on the dependent variables revealed that the Null hypotheses were rejected in all the two tests carried out and the Alternative hypotheses were accepted, meaning that the state of road transportation impacted on the literacy level and health conditions of rural dwellers in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria; with the level of impact however differing, depending on the variables being examined. The study recommended that there should be encouragement in the provision of financing for acquisition of motorcycles and three-wheelers that are mostly appropriate for rural roads; the Area Councils are to improve and rehabilitate rural roads by improving the earth and gravel-coated ones that are predominant in their respective Area Councils and residents should also be encouraged and supported by the appropriate offices of the Area Councils to establish Development Associations and Co-operatives to spearhead community self-help.