Abstract: This study assessed the perception of residents on the awareness, causes, effects and control of toxic road transport emission in Ilorin, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used. 2 by 2 km2 grid cells were overlaid on the road network map of Ilorin on a scale of 1:100,000 to form cells. Out of the 42 cells produced, 14 cells containing road intersections were randomly selected. A total of 500 copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents in the study area. Results showed that 75.92% of the residents were aware of transport emission. Over 74.79% of the residents identified traffic congestion, popularity of fairly used vehicles, too old vehicles and road side trading activities as the causes; majority (>69.65%) identified offensive odour and eye irritations as the effects; and over 74.12% of the residents identified nose covering, temporary exist from emission concentrated sites, winding up of vehicle’ screen and eyes covering as the coping strategies; of toxic road transport emission in the study area. The ANOVA generally showed no significant variation in the perception of respondents on the awareness, causes, effects and precautionary measure on toxic emission across the metropolis (p>0.05) except on eye irritation and breathing difficulties (p<0.05 as the effects road transport emission which showed significant variations across selected intersections in the study area. The study concluded that, the coping strategies are too weak due to unforceable end to the causes and effects of road traffic emission. The study recommended the need to enforce acceptable safe limit of vehicle emission and sensitize urban residents on the health implication of exposure to vehicle emission.
Key words: Awareness level, Motorization, Toxic road transport emission, Traffic congestion