The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and the Nigeria Police have commenced a coordinated operation to dismantle illegal checkpoints and roadblocks along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors, in a bid to ease traffic congestion, curb extortion, and improve cargo movement.
The initiative was announced by the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting involving security agencies, freight forwarders, transport unions, and government officials in Lagos.
Dantsoho disclosed that investigations conducted by the authority revealed widespread operational challenges along the port access roads, including unauthorized extortion points, overlapping security functions, and traffic bottlenecks that continue to disrupt logistics operations and increase the cost of doing business.
According to him, the identified challenges extend beyond the immediate port environment to key logistics routes around Berger, Mile 2, and other connecting roads used by truck operators and freight handlers.
He noted that discussions at the meeting also highlighted jurisdictional overlaps between the Maritime Police Command and the Lagos State Police Command, which have contributed to enforcement inefficiencies along the corridors.
The NPA boss, however, said both police formations clarified that they had not authorized the establishment of checkpoints or roadblocks on the Apapa and Tin Can routes.
“The AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that they do not send anybody to form roadblocks or checkpoints on the corridor. Equally, the Lagos State Police Command has made the same position clear,” Dantsoho said.
Dantsoho stressed that stronger collaboration among stakeholders would boost Nigeria’s competitiveness within the regional maritime industry and support ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s port system.
“Our emphasis is that we are going to function better in our practices so that we can outperform neighboring countries,” he said.
Speaking at the meeting, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime Operations, Okunade Ronke, denied allegations that police officers were officially deployed to checkpoints within the port environment.
She maintained that any officer involved in extortion or operating unauthorized checkpoints was acting outside official directives and would face disciplinary action if reported and found culpable.
“We have never posted officers to any checkpoint around the port environment. Any individual claiming to be deployed from the Maritime Police or Zone 2 while engaging in extortion is acting fraudulently,” she said.
As part of measures to address the challenges, stakeholders agreed to establish a joint task force comprising representatives of the Lagos State Government, NPA, Nigeria Police Force, freight forwarding associations, and transport operators.
The task force is expected to focus on eliminating illegal checkpoints, improving traffic management, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, streamlining cargo evacuation processes, and monitoring compliance across the port corridors.
Maritime industry stakeholders, including members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners and freight forwarding groups, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a critical step towards addressing longstanding concerns over harassment, extortion, and inefficiencies affecting port operations.
Industry operators believe the crackdown on illegal checkpoints and the establishment of a joint monitoring framework will result in faster cargo movement, reduced logistics costs, improved security, and enhanced efficiency across Nigeria’s busiest port corridors.
