In what ways can poor transportation limit the economic development of any one country?

Answer Details

Ways in which poor transportation can limit the economic development of a country (for example Nigeria):

Transport is the means by which people, raw materials and goods are moved from place to place. Where it is poor (few, badly maintained roads, limited rail, few navigable rivers, high costs), development is held back in the following ways:

• Restricted movement of goods and raw materials: factories cannot obtain raw materials cheaply or distribute their finished goods easily, so industries are discouraged and remain small.
• Discouragement of agriculture: farmers in remote areas cannot move their produce to market before it spoils, so they produce little for sale; farm produce rots and prices are unstable.
• High cost of goods and services: where transport is difficult, the cost of moving goods is high, which raises the prices of goods and lowers people's real income.
• Isolation of regions and uneven development: areas without good transport are cut off, so investment, trade and social services concentrate in the few accessible places, leaving other regions backward.
• Hindrance to trade (internal and external): poor links to ports, markets and neighbouring countries reduce the volume of trade and foreign exchange earnings.
• Discouragement of investment and industry: investors avoid areas that are hard to reach, so new industries and businesses are not established there.
• Limited exploitation of resources: minerals, forests and other resources in inaccessible areas cannot be developed because they cannot be moved out economically.
• Slow movement of labour and reduced tourism: workers cannot easily reach places of work, and tourists are put off by difficult travel, so both the labour market and the tourist industry suffer.

Thus poor transportation slows down agriculture, industry, trade, and the even spread of development, keeping the country's economy weak.