Lagos moves to end Apapa, Lekki-Epe gridlock

…Convenes stakeholders over traffic resurgence

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS — The Lagos State Government has moved to tackle renewed traffic congestion along the Apapa port access roads, Lekki-Epe Expressway and Lekki Free Trade Zone corridor, convening maritime, transportation and enforcement stakeholders for an emergency meeting.

The meeting, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olawale Musa, focused on identifying and addressing operational bottlenecks affecting the movement of articulated trucks and other road users across the major trade corridors.

The government expressed particular concern over the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty trucks along major roads, describing the practice as a major cause of traffic congestion and disruption to residents, commuters and businesses.

Zero tolerance for truck parking

Musa said the state government would intensify regulatory and enforcement measures against indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

He warned that public roads and other infrastructure must not be converted into makeshift truck parks, urging operators to comply with established traffic regulations and operational protocols.

“The State Government will intensify regulatory and enforcement measures against the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

“Road infrastructure will not be converted into makeshift truck parks. Operators must adhere strictly to established traffic regulations and operational protocols,” he said.

During the meeting, stakeholders identified five major factors contributing to the renewed traffic congestion across the affected corridors.

These include the intrusion of unregistered trucks from unauthorised parks into port environments, curfew restrictions affecting trucks destined for bonded terminals, glitches in the Epe Electronic Call-Up System, outdated automation infrastructure at Apapa Port and the indiscriminate staging of heavy-duty vehicles along major traffic corridors.

Stakeholders said trucks destined for bonded terminals are currently restricted from exiting port facilities after 6pm, resulting in vehicles being trapped within the facilities and contributing to internal congestion.

They also identified glitches in the Epe Electronic Call-Up System as a factor leaving scheduled trucks stranded and unable to access the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The existing call-up infrastructure at Apapa Port was also identified as requiring urgent upgrades to achieve seamless digital automation.

Stakeholders further expressed concern over the continued parking of articulated trucks along major transit routes, saying the practice blocks traffic lanes and worsens congestion.

The meeting was attended by the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, and senior officials of the agency.

Representatives of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, operating along the Lekki and Apapa corridors, the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, NPERA, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council also attended the meeting.

At the end of the deliberations, stakeholders agreed to overhaul the digital truck call-up systems and intensify joint enforcement operations across the affected corridors as part of efforts to restore normal traffic flow.

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