Nigeria to begin Lagos port corridor clean-up Thursday over extortion, congestion

The Federal Government will begin a clean-up and enforcement operation across the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors on Thursday, in an attempt to address mounting congestion, extortion, illegal checkpoints and unauthorised activities around Nigeria’s busiest ports.

The operation, coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, will target broken-down trucks, roadside trading, racketeering and uncontrolled access into port areas, officials said on Wednesday.

Princess Audu, director-general of PEBEC, said the exercise would involve the Nigerian Ports Authority, maritime police and the Lagos State Government, with plans to introduce tighter access control, automated gate systems and geofencing around restricted port zones. “It is the beginning of the change. It’s not a magic wand,” she said.

The clean-up comes as traffic conditions around the Lagos ports deteriorate again, despite the electronic call-up system introduced in 2021 to regulate truck movement.

Clinton Okoro, APPFLON pro Tin Can chapter, said trucks had gradually returned to parking along the corridor before securing electronic call-up approvals, weakening the system that once improved traffic flow.

“There is a lot of touting along the corridor. From Mile 2, people are doing all manner of things. People asking truck drivers for tickets,” he said.

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Okoro said multiple customs checkpoints mounted around Coconut Bridge, Julius Berger and Mile 2 were contributing to delays along the corridor. He also pointed to illegal roadside trading near the ports, including food vendors and suspected hard drug activity around Tin Can gates.

Audu mentioned illegal structures and businesses operating within the port corridor would be removed without compensation, arguing that many had no legal basis for operating there.

Okoro said operational problems inside the ports were compounding congestion outside them, citing outdated cargo handling systems, insufficient equipment and the absence of holding bays for empty containers.

According to him, some shipping companies still move empty containers back into the port area after offloading cargo because they lack designated facilities outside the ports, increasing pressure on already congested roads and terminals.

Stakeholders also raised concerns over insecurity around cargo movement at night, container break-ins, detention charges linked to delays in returning empty containers and weak enforcement of standards for off-dock terminals. PEBEC assured that it will work with security agencies to increase patrols and enforcement

Kingsley Igwe, registrar of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), said the clean-up was necessary to reduce cargo delays and limit the influence of unauthorised groups operating around the ports.

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“The port environment is critical to the economy. If it is not cleaned up, we will have revenue losses to private interest groups, unauthorised institutions and delays in cargo moving in and out of the port,” he said.

Igwe said regulators also needed to define who qualifies as a legitimate port user and harmonise access systems currently managed separately by the Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators.