Gridlock Resurfaces At Apapa As Truckers Flood Port Access Roads

• Alleged syndicate and some officials of key agencies profits from gridlock

The notorious traffic gridlock is gradually resurfacing at Apapa and its environs and threatening to paralyze movement and port operations again.

Operators and stakeholders at the Lagos Port have expressed concerns over the resurgence of severe gridlock in the Apapa Port area, following what they called the Electronic Call-Up system’s breakdown due to racketeering and extortion at various checkpoints by touts and the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) among others.

Despite earlier interventions, residents, commuters, and port workers are now facing renewed evening congestion as truckers and tankers horde the port access roads daily.

Investigations have revealed that while Apapa roads remain relatively free during the day, a long trail of trucks begins forming by evening from both the Costain and Mile 2 entry points.

From the Ijura-Olopa Bridge to Apapa and from Coconut Bus Stop to Tin Can Island’s gates, trucks line up in droves, allegedly paying between N30,000 and ₦50,000 to secure a spot in the queue.

It was gathered that some officials of key agencies—including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police—are allegedly involved in the illegal toll collection as the situation worsens.

The most affected areas of this gridlock include Wharf Road, Warehouse Road, Commercial Road, Burma Road, and Creek Road.

Recalled, the e-call-up system was introduced as a major initiative to permanently solve the gridlock on roads through effective vehicular movement electronically.

Some of the previous initiatives also included the creation of truck parks, a special truck lane, restricting truck movements to a specified time zone, creating special tasks, and intervention by Nigerian Security Forces. However, available evidence has proved that the initiatives have failed to address the problem of gridlock.

The latest gridlock has now crippled commercial and private activities at the ports, leading to the breakdown of law and order in the axis.

It was also gathered that the three truck parks, LillyPond, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, ABAT, Orile Iganmu, and Ijora-Iganmu, are functional but are involved in e-call up racketeering.

The operators of these parks are alleged to be agents of NPA, while there is coordination between the operators and NPA on when to release trucks for access to the port.

However, NPA in a notice to stakeholders, through its technical partner, TTP recently suspended the movement of all trucks from designated pre-gate areas into the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) pending the clearance of the current backlog of cargoes at the terminals.

The NPA added in the notice that the operational restriction is a temporary measure and that the pre-gates will be reopened once the terminals have sufficient space to accommodate additional trucks.

The statement read in part: “The Nigerian Ports Authority has directed a temporary hold on the release of trucks from all pre-gates serving the Lagos Port Complex, LPC, until further notice.

“The measure is to facilitate the clearance of congestion along the port access route. Please note that this operational measure is temporary. The pre-gates will be reopened as soon as the terminals absorb all the trucks on the roads.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work with relevant authorities to restore normal operations. Updates will be provided as they become available.”