Apapa Gridlock Returns After Brief Respite

Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria – November 15, 2025: The notorious traffic gridlock around Apapa has resurfaced barely two weeks after government agencies intervened to ease congestion, leaving residents, port workers, and motorists frustrated once again.

The truck arrested by the Port Manager.

Following a report published on October 26, 2025, titled “Apapa Traffic Chaos Resurfaces, Threatening Port Operations”, relevant authorities took action that temporarily restored order. However, by mid-November, trucks had returned to indiscriminate parking along major roads, choking access routes to the Lagos Port Complex.

On Friday, November 14, the Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, Adebowale Lawal Ibrahim, alongside his management team, embarked on an inspection of affected areas. During the exercise, a truck was found parked at the roundabout connecting Burma Road and Commercial Road opposite Fidelity Bank—a spot notorious for illegal parking.

Currently, Burma and Creek Roads have some relief observed; Warehouse Road to Niger Bus Stop is still heavily congested while Wharf Road inward Apapa Port is frequently choked, forcing commuters to drive against traffic—a serious violation.

The a top official of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and some journalists accused our reporter of financial inducement in connection with the October 26 story. Despite the allegations, the report had prompted short-lived enforcement actions that brought temporary relief.

Meanwhile, the Head of Corporate Communication at Truck Transit Park (TTP), Nancie Nnadi, blamed terminal operators for the recurring gridlock, citing their lack of speed and efficiency in handling operations along Wharf Road.

Port Manager Ibrahim Lawal  explained that efforts are being made to address the situation but stressed that Wharf road is supposed to have the trucks lining up on one lane allowing vehicular movement to use the other.

He however noted that some truck drivers refuse to follow the line in a bid to get into the port early. The Port Manager also explained that such trucks are not supposed to be on the queue, he stressed that some of them only using the queue to wait for Terminal Delivery Order, TDO to access the port.

The return of the Apapa gridlock underscores the enduring challenge of port access management in Lagos, raising fresh concerns about efficiency, enforcement, and accountability in Nigeria’s maritime logistics chain.