An Assessment of Touting Activities in Selected Urban Motor Parks in Ibadan Metropolis

Abstract

The pull created by unemployment has pushed many individuals into forming gangs usually referred to as touts, whose activities revolve round the streets, bus stops, market, motor parks and especially, the transport corridors. These studies examine the touting in Nigeria motor parks especially in Ibadan metropolis. The study used a purposive sampling to select five major motor parks in Ibadan Metropolis (Gate, Sango, Ojoo, Iwo-road and Dugbe), and 250 copies of questionnaire were administered to touts in the respective motor parks. Result showed that 75.6% of the touts were introduced into touting by friends without any qualification. Primary activities performed by the touts included collection of money from passengers, collection of union dues and calling of passengers. Many of the touts ventured into the vocation due to unemployment, need for survival and lack of care from parents. The nefarious activities performed by the touts included extortion of money, vandalism, raping, killing and stealing. The study recommended the provision of employment and rehabilitation through vocational establishments.

Keywords: Unemployment, Touting activities, Motor parks, Ibadan metropolis