Lekki Port Stakeholders Blame Lagos Govt For Worsening Traffic Congestion Along Port Corridor

Stakeholders along the Lekki Deep Seaport axis have lamented that port operations are being disrupted by worsening traffic congestion, blaming the Lagos State Government for failing to effectively enforce traffic rules along the corridor. In a statement, they said the government’s failure to ensure truckers use designated truck parks before being called up for cargo evacuation, despite an operational electronic call-up system, has left investors in truck park facilities counting losses due to poor patronage.

Lekki World Managing Director Adeola Olusodo said his company does not regulate traffic, noting that responsibility lies with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. Truck park operators Cyril Jonah and Shile Oloto said many drivers secure call-up tickets before arriving at the port, bypassing the parks, with Oloto disclosing that bank loans invested in his park over three years had yielded no returns due to poor enforcement.

Nigerian Ports Authority Lekki Port Manager Emmanuel Anda attributed the enforcement failures partly to the NPA’s non-involvement in designing the truck call-up system, disclosing that both sides of the road had at times been completely blocked by tankers and trucks, contributing to multiple fatal accidents. Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Seun Osiyemi acknowledged the gridlock but said it was often triggered by rumours of fuel price hikes prompting rushed evacuations, adding that the government avoids forceful enforcement to prevent triggering protests but deploys trucks to designated parks when needed.

Separately, the Lagos State Government said it plans to intensify enforcement along the Apapa and Lekki Port corridors, with Special Adviser on Transportation Sola Giwa disclosing at a strategy meeting that gaps had been identified in the current enforcement process, necessitating more personnel deployment to strengthen compliance with the E-Call-Up system.