The dreaded gridlock that once brought Apapa and its environs to a standstill appears to be making a disturbing comeback, sparking fears of another round of economic disruption and human suffering.
Despite years of interventions and multi-agency task forces, the Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists, NNMJ reports that the port city is once again choking under evening traffic as trucks and tankers besiege major access roads.
Investigations reveal that while Apapa roads remain relatively free during daytime hours, the situation changes dramatically by evening. Long queues of articulated vehicles now stretch from both the Costain and Mile 2 entry points, with truckers allegedly paying between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000 to secure a place in the line.
From the Ijora-Olopa Bridge down to Apapa and from Coconut Bus Stop to the Tin Can Island Port gates, the scenario is the same, a chaotic mix of trucks, gridlocked lanes, and frustrated commuters.
Sources allege that officials of key government 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 complicit in the illegal collection of tolls that perpetuate the disorder.
By 5 p.m. each day, commuters trapped in the gridlock often abandon their vehicles to continue their journeys on commercial motorcycles. Major roads such as Wharf Road, Warehouse Road, Commercial Road, Burma Road, and Creek Road have become daily choke points.
Residents and port workers warn that if the trend continues, port efficiency could decline sharply, reversing the gains achieved through previous traffic control reforms.
Moses Fadipe, former National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), attributed the resurgence of the gridlock to the re-emergence of vested interests who once profited from the chaos.
“The state government knows exactly what to do. The problem is that those benefiting from the disorder are back in control,” he said.
Similarly, Martins Enibeli, President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and the Nigerian Licensed Ship Chandlers Association (NILSCA), blamed what he described as “government insincerity and lack of political will.”
He urged authorities to prioritize rail transport for cargo evacuation and revive the Eastern and Delta ports to ease the pressure on Apapa.
“Bonded terminals should be relocated far from the ports and linked by rail. We cannot keep concentrating port operations in Lagos while neglecting other regions,” Enibeli stated.
A senior government official, who spoke under anonymity, confirmed that a syndicate comprising both state and non-state actors is allegedly behind the illegal toll collection, using the proceeds to enrich themselves while worsening the traffic situation.
Maritime stakeholders have called for urgent federal intervention to dismantle the alleged racketeering network, restore order to Apapa’s port corridors, and ensure that Nigeria’s maritime economy does not once again grind to a halt under the weight of corruption and mismanagement.