Stakeholders in the maritime sector have expressed growing concerns over the severe traffic congestion affecting the trucks batching process at the port, following the closure of the Marine Beach bridge.
The closure has led to significant delays, with trucks being held-up in traffic before reaching the terminal, ultimately slowing down port operations and further complicating the already strained process.
Recall that the Lagos State Government had announced a traffic diversion on the Marine Bridge, outbound Apapa, for 97 days to allow for repairs on the asphalt section of the road. The partial closure of Marine Bridge is scheduled to run from Monday, 18th November 2024, to Tuesday, 25th February 2025.
In a statement released recently, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, advised motorists to use alternative routes during the period. He stated, “Motorists heading to Lagos Island from Apapa are advised to go through Costain Roundabout inwards Eko Bridge to reach Lagos Island. Alternatively, they can use Ijora 7up through the Marine Bridge to access the ramp linking Ijora Causeway Access Road via Ijora Oloye and proceed to Eko Bridge to connect Lagos Island.”
Osiyemi further explained the alternative routes for those heading to Ijora Causeway or Iddo from Apapa. He clarified that the diversion would only affect traffic inwards Ijora Olopa, while movement towards Costain via Sifax would remain open.
However speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week, a chieftain of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Rilwan Bello lamented the growing challenges for truck movement and port operations, particularly as the closure disrupts the normal flow of traffic.
According to Bello, the ongoing traffic bottlenecks are having a direct impact on the electronic call-up and batching process for trucks. With trucks already delayed by congestion before reaching the terminals, Bello noted that the ability of terminals to efficiently service and batch trucks for entry into the port is severely compromised. “If the truck gets in and the terminal is not working optimally, those that are at the pre-gate cannot be bashed to go into the port,” Bello explained.
The AMATO Chieftain informed that the closure of the Marine Beach bridge has forced a shift in traffic patterns, with alternative routes being used to navigate the area. He noted that while efforts are being made to divert traffic through Kayode Street, stakeholders are concerned that the diversion will further strain the already congested access points leading to the port.
However, the Bello pointed out that the delays in the batching process are compounded by traffic congestion around the port area. He said if trucks are held up before they even reach the terminal, it becomes difficult for the terminals to operate efficiently, further delaying the batching process. “If the truck gets in and the terminal is not working optimally, those that are at the pre-gate cannot be bashed to go into the port,” he said.
Bello suggested that the key to alleviating this problem lies in improved coordination between the various stakeholders, including the terminal operators, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and traffic control agencies. He emphasized the need for the port’s last mile operations to work more effectively, particularly as the country heads into the busy Ember months when port activities peak.
Despite the anticipated challenges brought about by traffic diversions and increased activities, Bello remains optimistic stating “I’m very sure that there will be traffic diversions in place. And I’m looking forward to better traffic control measures, especially around the last mile,” he concluded.
On his part, a chieftain of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Lilypond-Ijora Chapter, Prince Segun Adefioye emphasized the temporary nature of the closure aimed at easing traffic congestion.
As of Thursday, according to him, the Marine bridge remained closed, with vehicles being diverted to the service lane underneath the bridge. He noted that this alternative route passes through Lilypond and leads to Area ‘B’ Police command, around Leventis.
Adefioye highlighted that traffic from Ijora is also affected, as the Ijora axis to National Theatre has been blocked. To navigate these disruptions, drivers are now rerouting through Ijora Olopa to the Water Corporation area, he stated.
Despite the challenges, Adefioye noted that traffic is still moving, albeit slower than usual. “The traffic is fair,” he said, acknowledging that while there are delays, vehicles are not at a standstill. The waiting times are manageable, with vehicles moving every few minutes rather than being stuck for extended periods.
The ANLCA Chieftain also informed that security operatives have been stationed along key routes to manage the flow of traffic, ensuring that the situation remains under control. However, Adefioye cautioned that the ongoing disruptions would inevitably impact business operations, particularly in the maritime sector.
When contacted, an officer of the Public Relations Unit of Truck Transit Park (TTP), Nancy Nnamdi, clarified the organization’s role in the truck release process amid growing concerns over traffic disruptions at the port.
Speaking in response to inquiries regarding the management of truck movement, Nnamdi emphasized that TTP functions solely as technology managers and does not control the release of trucks independently.
According to Nnamdi, trucks are released based on requests from terminal operators and in accordance with approval from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). She explained, “We release trucks based on terminal requests as approved by the NPA and based on the road situation also as directed by the NPA.”
