Dantsoho leads fresh push against port access gridlock

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated a multi-agency task force to tackle the resurgence of traffic congestion along the Lagos port access roads, as part of renewed efforts to sustain seamless cargo evacuation, improve logistics efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s seaports.

The initiative follows a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23, 2026, where representatives of security agencies, freight forwarders, truck owners, maritime unions and the Lagos State Government agreed on a coordinated strategy to eliminate operational bottlenecks responsible for the renewed gridlock.

The stakeholders identified illegal checkpoints, extortion by unscrupulous operators, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and poor traffic coordination as some of the major factors undermining the free movement of trucks and cargo along the port corridor.

Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, NPA MD & Ikechukwu Onyemekara

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority remains committed to ensuring the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises officials of the NPA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), 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’s primary responsibility is to monitor truck movement along the port access roads, identify emerging traffic disruptions and promptly resolve issues before they escalate into gridlock.

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing congestion and immediately address such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He clarified that the task force would not mount checkpoints or impede traffic but would instead maintain a strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance while facilitating smooth traffic flow.

To strengthen real-time coordination, Onyemakara disclosed that members of the task force have established a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which incidents, traffic violations and emerging bottlenecks can be reported and resolved without delay.

On the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the contractual framework ahead of renewing the service agreement to ensure greater efficiency, transparency and accountability.

He explained that although the previous contract has expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending the conclusion of the procurement process for a new agreement.

The Electronic Truck Call-Up System, introduced by the NPA in 2021, was designed to regulate truck movements into the Lagos ports, eliminate indiscriminate parking on port corridors and reduce the chronic traffic congestion that previously crippled economic activities around Apapa and Tin Can Island.

Onyemakara expressed confidence that the contract renewal process would be concluded soon, adding that the Authority remains focused on improving port efficiency and sustaining recent gains in cargo handling and vessel turnaround time.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said.

He noted that recent international assessments, including improvements recorded in global port performance rankings, underscore the progress made by the Authority, stressing that the NPA is determined to consolidate those gains through stronger stakeholder collaboration and efficient port operations.

“We are determined not only to sustain the improvements already recorded but to surpass them and position Nigerian ports among the most efficient in Africa,” Onyemakara added.