Integrated Transport Systems and Supply Chain Resilience in Emerging Economies: Evidence from the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector

Supply chain disruptions have become increasingly frequent and severe, exposing the vulnerability of manufacturing firms in emerging economies where transportation systems are often fragmented and inadequately integrated. In Nigeria, persistent challenges such as poor intermodal connectivity, road congestion, limited rail freight utilisation, port inefficiencies and rising logistics costs continue to undermine supply chain performance and industrial competitiveness. Despite growing scholarly attention to supply chain resilience, limited empirical evidence exists on how integrated transport systems contribute to resilience capabilities within emerging-economy manufacturing contexts. This study therefore examines the influence of integrated transport systems on supply chain resilience in the Nigerian manufacturing sector. Drawing on Systems Theory and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study adopts a quantitative research approach based on a cross-sectional survey of manufacturing firms across major industrial clusters in Nigeria. Data were collected from supply chain, logistics and procurement managers and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that integrated transport systems significantly enhance supply chain resilience through improvements in flexibility, visibility, redundancy and recovery capability. Specifically, multimodal transport connectivity emerged as the strongest predictor of resilience, while digital logistics integration and institutional transport coordination also exerted significant positive effects on firms' ability to withstand and recover from disruptions. The study concludes that integrated transport systems constitute a strategic capability for strengthening supply chain resilience and manufacturing competitiveness in emerging economies. The findings underscore the need for coordinated investments in multimodal transportation infrastructure, digital logistics technologies and institutional transport reforms to support sustainable industrial development and long-term economic resilience. Copyright (c) The Authors. | Repository: journal.jcarm.in | Development Status: Active