Fresh allegations of corruption are trailing the resurgence of gridlock in Apapa, as key port and traffic management officials are accused of profiting from the chaos.
Sources alleged that some personnel of 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 an illegal toll collection racket, turning a blind eye while truckers clog port access roads for cash.
The notorious traffic gridlock that once crippled Apapa and its environs is gradually resurfacing, threatening to paralyse movement and port operations once again.
Despite earlier interventions, residents, commuters, and port workers are now facing renewed evening congestion as truckers and tankers flood the port access roads daily.
Investigations by the Network of Nigerian Maritime Journalists reveal 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 Ijora-Olopa Bridge to Apapa and from Coconut Bus Stop to Tin Can Island’s gates, trucks line up in droves—allegedly paying between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000 to secure a position in the queue.
The most affected routes include Wharf Road, Warehouse Road, Commercial Road, Burma Road, and Creek Road.
By 5 p.m., many vehicle owners abandon their cars and resort to motorcycles to escape the gridlock before nightfall.
Moses Fadipe, former National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), attributed the resurgence to the return of vested interests who previously profited from the chaos. He noted that the Lagos State Government knows the measures required to prevent a full-blown crisis.
Martins Enibeli, President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and the Nigerian Licensed Ship Chandlers Association (NILSCA), blamed government insincerity for the relapse. He urged authorities to prioritize rail transport for cargo evacuation from Lagos ports and revive the Eastern and Delta ports to ease pressure on Apapa.
“Bonded terminals should be relocated far from the ports and connected by rail. Government must stop concentrating port operations in the West while neglecting other regions,” Enibeli stated.
A senior official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that a syndicate involving both state and non-state actors is profiting from the tolls collected from truckers, worsening the traffic crisis.
Stakeholders are now calling for urgent federal intervention to dismantle the alleged racketeering network and restore sanity to Apapa’s transport corridors.