ASSESSMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF LOGISTICS ROUTE FOR INTRA-CITY (LAST-MILE) LOGISTICS IN KANO STATE (USING GIS)

ABSTRACT This study addresses the critical challenges impeding efficient last-mile logistics operations in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria, by leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and stakeholder insights to optimize transportation routes. As a rapidly urbanizing city with a population exceeding 4 million, Kano faces severe logistical bottlenecks, including traffic congestion, inadequate road infrastructure, and reliance on informal delivery networks. These issues exacerbate delivery delays, operational costs, and environmental impacts, necessitating data-driven solutions to enhance urban freight efficiency. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys (n=251 respondents across logistics operators, business owners, and customers), qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, and GIS-based spatial analysis. Demographic findings reveal a youth-dominated logistics sector (71.3% aged 20–29), significant gender disparities (93.4% male logistics operators vs. 60% female business owners), and a predominance of residential delivery destinations (54–60% of responses). Key challenges identified include poor road conditions (56% of roads in bad repair), address confusion (47% of delays), and a reliance on experiential route planning (74% of operators), with only 20% utilizing GPS technology. GIS-driven optimization models demonstrated tangible improvements: rerouting deliveries from Ahmadu Bello Way to Bayero University reduced travel distance by 17.75 km (shortest path) and time by 23.88 minutes (fastest route), while avoiding congestion hotspots like Kwari Market and Sabon Gari reduced delays by 15–25%. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA tests (p > 0.05), confirmed no significant spatial variation in logistics activity across Kano’s 13 zones, though high variances highlighted inconsistent service coverage. The study proposes actionable recommendations such as: implementing city-wide street naming and digital addressing systems to mitigate navigation inefficiencies, prioritizing road rehabilitation on critical arterials to reduce vehicle operating costs, fostering public-private partnerships to develop urban consolidation centers and intermodal hubs, and lastly adopting low-emission vehicles and GIS-enabled dynamic routing to enhance sustainability. These interventions align with global urban logistics trends, offering scalable solutions to improve delivery reliability, reduce CO₂ emissions, and support Kano’s economic growth. By integrating geospatial technologies with stakeholder collaboration, this research provides a replicable framework for optimizing last-mile logistics in rapidly urbanizing contexts, emphasizing the role of data-driven planning in achieving sustainable and efficient freight systems.