NPA launches multi-agency task force to tackle renewed Lagos port gridlock

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has inaugurated a multi-agency task force to address the resurgence of traffic congestion along the Lagos port access roads, as part of renewed efforts to ensure seamless cargo evacuation and sustain improvements in port operations.

The initiative followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, last month, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate bottlenecks affecting cargo movement.

Deliberations at the meeting identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational inefficiencies as major causes of the renewed gridlock along the port corridor.

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

According to Onyemakara, the task force has been mandated to monitor truck movement along the port access roads on a regular basis, identify disruptions capable of causing traffic gridlock and immediately resolve such issues before they escalate.

He explained that members of the team would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would instead maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance while avoiding further obstruction to traffic.

To facilitate swift response to emerging challenges, Onyemakara said the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report traffic violations and other incidents requiring immediate intervention.

On the renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, which expired recently, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the contractual terms to ensure a stronger and more effective framework before awarding a new agreement.

He, however, clarified that the ETO platform remains operational under the management of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending the conclusion of the procurement process.

He expressed optimism that the renewal process would be completed soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing port access roads, Onyemakara noted that efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s strategy to enhance Nigeria’s port competitiveness and sustain the country’s improving global reputation.

“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 added that the Authority was determined to consolidate the gains already recorded in port efficiency, citing recent international recognition, including positive assessments by the World Bank, as evidence of ongoing progress.

“We are determined to sustain and even surpass the improvements already recorded in our port system. You can be assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the best possible performance from our ports,” Onyemakara said.

The newly inaugurated task force comprises representatives of 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).