Apapa Gridlock Resurfaces: A Syndicate's Profitable Chaos

By Lod Onyeji

The notorious traffic congestion that once crippled Apapa, Lagos, is making a troubling comeback, threatening to paralyze movement and disrupt port operations. Despite previous interventions, residents, commuters, and port workers are facing renewed evening gridlock as truckers and tankers flood the port access roads daily.

Investigations reveal that while Apapa roads remain relatively clear during the day, a long trail of trucks begins forming by evening from both the Costain and Mile 2 entry points. The Ijora-Olopa Bridge, Coconut Bus Stop, and Tin Can Island's gates are choke points where trucks allegedly pay between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000 to secure spots in the queue.

Sources allege that officials from key agencies, including 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 the illegal toll collection, exacerbating the crisis.

The worst-affected areas include Wharf Road, Warehouse Road, Commercial Road, Burma Road, and Creek Road. By 5 p.m., motorists often abandon their vehicles, opting for motorcycles to escape the gridlock.

Former National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), Moses Fadipe, attributes the resurgence to vested interests profiting from the chaos. Martins Enibeli, President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and NILSCA, blames government insincerity and urges authorities to prioritize rail transport for cargo evacuation and revive Eastern and Delta ports to ease pressure on Apapa.

A senior official confirms that a syndicate involving state and non-state actors profits from the tolls, worsening the crisis. Stakeholders call for urgent federal intervention to dismantle the alleged racketeering network and restore order to Apapa's transport corridors.