Truckers and other maritime stakeholders have dismissed claims that the closure of Marine Bridge in Apapa or infrastructure deficiency are responsible for the renewed gridlock around Apapa ports, insisting that the real triggers are terminal inefficiency, corrupt practices, and the traditional December cargo traffic surge.
Their reactions follow the sudden return of heavy congestion on the Apapa corridor—despite improvements recorded in recent months with the electronic call-up system.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily, Secretary General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mr. Muhammed Sani Bala, said the recurring gridlock cannot be blamed on Marine Bridge closure, describing the impact as “minimal at best.” He argued that erratic terminal operations remain the primary cause of truck delays.
“Some terminals have been inactive for nearly two weeks. Others work for only a few hours and shut down without notice. This prolongs cargo dwell time and blocks truck movement. Under such conditions, gridlock between pre-gates and the ports is inevitable,” he said.
Bala added that the unreliable scheduling of terminal operations undermines the efficiency of the electronic call-up system. “No call-up system can function properly when terminals operate like this,” he stated, urging authorities to recalibrate terminal processes to allow consistent truck flow.
Another truck union leader who spoke under anonymity accused certain actors within the port ecosystem of manipulating the call-up system through fake plate numbers and special alliances that enable them jump queues.
“The industry has been sold to those who want fast delivery at a premium. Some officials stop trucks just to push prices up, worsening traffic,” he alleged.
He further claimed that some port personnel and terminal handlers intentionally delay trucks, divert them to private garages, or re-route them to manipulate call-up allocations—all of which fuel the congestion cycle.
For Badagry-based truck owner Kunle Ajayi, the December holiday rush is a major contributor to the gridlock. He said the season naturally increases cargo volumes and puts extra pressure on Apapa traffic.
“Once it’s December, traffic rises whether or not any construction is ongoing. The festive season alone brings volume spikes that stretch the system,” he said.
Ajayi noted that while terminal irregularities and corrupt practices worsen the problem, the annual yuletide rush remains a consistent driver of congestion—one that authorities must plan for if efficiency is to be restored at Nigeria’s busiest port district
