NPA Launches Multi-Agency Taskforce to End Apapa, Tin Can Gridlock, Safeguard Port Efficiency

By Frontline Reporters
Determined to eliminate the recurring traffic gridlock crippling access to Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated a multi-agency taskforce to restore the free flow of cargo and sustain the impressive operational gains recorded under its ongoing port reform initiatives.
The intervention follows a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, two weeks ago, where key players in the maritime industry agreed on coordinated strategies to tackle the persistent congestion along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.
The meeting brought together representatives of security and traffic management agencies, freight forwarding associations, truck operators and officials of the Lagos State Government, who identified illegal extortion points, overlapping enforcement responsibilities among security agencies and other operational inefficiencies as major factors responsible for the recurring gridlock on the port access roads.
Announcing the establishment of the taskforce, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said ensuring seamless movement of cargo into and out of the nation’s seaports had become an urgent priority, particularly in Lagos, where traffic congestion has continued to threaten port productivity and supply chain efficiency.
According to Onyemakara, the taskforce comprises personnel drawn from the NPA, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).
He explained that the team has been mandated to monitor truck movements on port access roads on a continuous basis, promptly identify disruptions capable of triggering traffic congestion and take immediate corrective measures before such situations escalate.
“The responsibility of the taskforce is to monitor truck movement on the port access roads regularly, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara stated.
He clarified that members of the taskforce would not mount checkpoints or create additional bottlenecks along the corridors. Instead, they would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance while allowing uninterrupted traffic flow. To facilitate rapid response, he added, the taskforce has established a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions and emerging traffic situations for immediate intervention.
On the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system, Onyemakara disclosed that although the previous management contract had expired, the platform remains fully operational under the management of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) while the Authority reviews contractual terms ahead of awarding a new agreement. He expressed optimism that the procurement process would soon be concluded to provide a stronger contractual framework capable of supporting the long-term sustainability of the system.
Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to efficient port operations, Onyemakara said maintaining free-flowing port access roads remains critical to improving Nigeria’s logistics chain, enhancing the competitiveness of the nation’s seaports and consolidating the country’s growing international reputation.
“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest. If you look at the international recognition we are receiving, including the World Bank report, we are determined to sustain and even surpass the improvements already recorded in our port system. You can rest assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the highest possible performance from our seaports,” he said.
The latest initiative underscores the NPA’s determination to address long-standing logistics challenges through coordinated inter-agency collaboration, technology-driven traffic management and stronger stakeholder engagement, as the Authority intensifies efforts to position Nigerian ports among the most efficient and competitive gateways in Africa.