Evaluation of Livelihood Opportunities in The Informal Sector: A Case of Commercial Motorcycle Riding in BDA, Niger State, Nigeria

Poor transportation system and inadequate means of transports have forced urban residents to take succour in paratransit. Livelihood is inevitable in the existence of human being. Commercial motorcycle riding is one of the fast-growing livelihood strategies among the poor/low-income youths in the city. However, commercial motorcycle riding is an informal economic activity, and therefore, a marginal livelihood. It serves as a means through which people secure their basic necessities of life while the commercial motorcycle operation is seen as a channel of movement in everyday activities and overall means of living of people. The study investigated the livelihood opportunities of commercial motorcycle riding. The main objectives of the study were to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of commercial motorcycle operators, spatial attributes patterns of commercial motorcycles, relationship between participation and livelihood wellbeing and commercial motorcycles operation. Stratified simple random sampling was adopted in selecting a representative from commercial motorcycles parking places to administer structured questionnaires to 215 commercial motorcycle riders in the study area. The study adopted both descriptive and inferential techniques to analyse the data collected. Analysis was done with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The study concluded that, commercial motorcycle operation contributes significantly to livelihood improvement of the operators and facilitate movement of individual, hence increase social integration. The study therefore recommends that the government should consider and recognize commercial motorcycle operation as one of the means of living activities that fill the gap of youth employment problem. Provision of support in terms of loans to the operators of commercial motorcycles especially for those riders who hire/lease their motorcycles is also suggested. These will contribute to the reduction in unemployment and poverty rates.