UNLOCKING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POTENTIAL: A REVIEW OF NIGERIA'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly acknowledged as a transformative force in transportation systems
worldwide. In Nigeria, where rapid urbanization intensifies mobility challenges, AI offers practical pathways to
improve traffic management, logistics, public transport, and road safety. This study employed a systematic review
to examine how AI is being applied within Nigeria’s transportation sector, its benefits, and the barriers to adoption.
A comprehensive search of academic databases, government reports, and scholarly literature published between
2015 and 2025 was conducted. Guided by PRISMA protocols, 1,245 records were identified, 1,000 screened after
duplicates were removed, and 150 full-text articles assessed for eligibility. Seventy-seven studies met the inclusion
criteria and were analysed thematically. The evidence highlights diverse applications of AI, including intelligent
traffic systems, predictive logistics, smart scheduling for public transport, and safety monitoring. These
innovations demonstrate clear benefits: greater efficiency, enhanced safety, improved commuter experiences, and
contributions to environmental sustainability. Yet, significant challenges remain. Infrastructural limitations,
policy and regulatory gaps, data quality concerns, financial constraints, and issues of public trust continue to
hinder widespread adoption.
This review concludes that AI holds substantial promise for advancing Nigeria’s transportation systems. Realising
this potential will require deliberate investments in infrastructure, robust governance frameworks, and the
cultivation of a skilled workforce. With these foundations in place, AI can become a catalyst for safer, more
efficient, and more sustainable mobility across Nigeria’s urban centres.