By Oluyinka Onigbinde
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 efforts to restore seamless cargo movement and sustain recent improvements in port operations.
The initiative followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and officials of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the operational bottlenecks hindering cargo evacuation.
Discussions at the meeting identified illegal extortion points, overlapping roles among security agencies and other operational inefficiencies as the major causes of the renewed gridlock around the port corridor.
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 uninterrupted movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.
According to him, 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).
“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement along the port access roads on a continuous basis, promptly identify any disruption capable of causing traffic gridlock and ensure such challenges are immediately resolved,” Onyemakara said.
He clarified that members of the task force would not mount checkpoints on the port corridor but would maintain a strategic presence at designated locations to monitor compliance while ensuring the free flow of traffic.
To facilitate rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has established a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report traffic violations, illegal activities and emerging incidents requiring immediate intervention.
On the renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, Onyemakara explained that the NPA is currently reviewing the contractual framework to ensure a more effective and sustainable agreement before awarding a new contract.
He noted 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.
He expressed optimism that the contract renewal would be completed soon.
Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain critical to the NPA’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian ports and consolidate the country’s growing reputation in global maritime trade.
“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: “Considering the international recognition we have received, including the World Bank report, we are determined to sustain and even surpass the progress already recorded in our port system. You can be assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the highest level of performance across our ports.”
