By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Police Force have launched a renewed clampdown on unauthorised checkpoints and roadblocks along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors in Lagos, as part of efforts to ease chronic congestion and improve cargo movement on the nation’s busiest logistics routes.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos involving security agencies, freight forwarders, and transport unions. The meeting focused on addressing operational bottlenecks hindering smooth access to the port corridors.
Dantsoho said investigations had revealed multiple challenges along the routes, including illegal extortion points, overlapping jurisdiction among security agencies, and other disruptions that continue to slow down cargo movement.
“We have problems along the port corridor in Apapa and Tin Can Island. There are issues relating to enforcement activities outside the immediate port environment,” he said.
He noted that the affected corridor extends beyond the port itself, covering areas such as Mile 2 and Berger, where disruptions also contribute to gridlock and inefficiencies.
The NPA boss also highlighted jurisdictional conflicts among security agencies as a major challenge affecting operations.
“The second issue is jurisdictional overlap. We have the Maritime Police Command and the Lagos State Police Command, and in some instances, there are clashes in responsibilities,” he explained.
According to him, the meeting produced key resolutions aimed at strengthening coordination among stakeholders to improve efficiency along the corridors.
He added that both the Maritime Police and the Lagos State Police Command have denied authorising the establishment of checkpoints along the port access roads.
“The AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that no personnel were deployed to form roadblocks or checkpoints along the corridor. The Lagos State Police Command has also made a similar clarification,” he said.
Dantsoho described the outcome of the meeting as a significant step toward eliminating long-standing delays that have frustrated port users, importers, and exporters.
He also stressed the need for deeper collaboration among all relevant agencies, including security bodies, freight forwarders, and government institutions, to improve overall efficiency and make Nigerian ports more competitive.
“Our focus is to improve our operations so that we can perform better than our neighbouring countries,” he said.
He further noted that Nigeria’s port system has recently gained international recognition for improvement.
“Our port system has been confirmed by the World Bank as one of the most improved globally,” he added, attributing the progress to ongoing reforms under the federal government.
Dantsoho expressed optimism that the new agreements would significantly reduce congestion and improve cargo flow along the Apapa and Tin Can Island corridors.
He also commended stakeholders for their contributions, describing the engagement as productive and solution-driven.
Speaking earlier, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime, Okunade Ronke, dismissed allegations that police officers are officially deployed to operate checkpoints along the port access roads.
She said any officer involved in extortion under the guise of checkpoint duties is acting illegally and would face disciplinary action.
Okunade explained that stakeholders agreed to establish a joint task force comprising the Lagos State Government, the NPA, the Police, and other relevant agencies to improve coordination and address traffic challenges along the corridors.
According to her, there are no officially sanctioned checkpoints on the port access routes, stressing that any officer claiming deployment from Zone 2 or the Maritime Police is acting fraudulently and should be reported.
She added that the new collaborative framework would help reduce jurisdictional conflicts and streamline enforcement activities across the corridor.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of the NPA and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention to address extortion, harassment, and disruptions affecting cargo movement.
They also agreed to set up a broader committee comprising government agencies, freight forwarders, and transport operators to develop clear terms of reference for sustained monitoring and enforcement.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that the challenges extend beyond transport regulation and involve security and enforcement responsibilities across multiple jurisdictions.
He added that while illegal operators are occasionally arrested and prosecuted, sustained collaboration remains essential to achieving lasting solutions.
At the end of the meeting, participants expressed optimism that the coordinated approach would improve security, reduce congestion, and enhance overall efficiency along the Lagos port corridors.
