Lekki Port Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Worsening Traffic Gridlock
Stakeholders operating around the Lekki Deep Seaport corridor have raised concerns over worsening traffic congestion, warning that the situation could disrupt port operations and hinder the smooth evacuation of cargo.
The stakeholders attributed the persistent gridlock to what they described as inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations along the corridor by the Lagos State Government, particularly regarding the movement of articulated trucks and other port-bound vehicles.
They made their concerns known in a statement, noting that prolonged congestion could negatively affect cargo evacuation, business activities and investment around the Lekki Port axis.
Although an electronic call-up system is already in place to regulate truck movements into and out of the port, the stakeholders said the system had not achieved its full objective because truckers were allegedly not being adequately compelled to use designated truck parks before receiving clearance to access the port.
They expressed concern that the poor utilisation of accredited truck parks was already affecting investors in the facilities.
“Already, investors in truck park facilities are beginning to count their losses as the poor patronage of the parks erodes confidence in the investment environment, despite assurances from the Lagos State Government,” the stakeholders said.
Managing Director of Lekki World and a major stakeholder in the port corridor, Adeola Olusodo, acknowledged the challenges, stressing that traffic regulation along the corridor remained the responsibility of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
“We do not regulate traffic. The Lagos State Government, through its agency, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, is responsible for ensuring that truck movements are properly regulated along the port corridor,” Olusodo said.
A trucker, Cyril Jonah of Jancy Truck Park, said operators of truck parks were facing difficulties because many drivers obtained their electronic call-up tickets before arriving at the parks.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Admoore Park, Shile Oloto, said investors had committed significant funds to the facility without receiving corresponding returns.
Oloto said the underutilisation of accredited truck parks was partly linked to inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations along the corridor.
The Port Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Lekki Port, Emmanuel Anda, also raised concerns about the traffic management situation, attributing some of the challenges to the non-involvement of the NPA in the formulation of the truck call-up system.
According to him, there had been instances where tankers and container trucks completely blocked both sides of the road because of enforcement failures, further worsening the congestion.
Anda warned that the unregulated movement of heavy-duty vehicles had contributed to several fatal accidents along the corridor, stressing the need for stronger traffic management measures to prevent further loss of lives.
He noted that the high volume of commercial and industrial activities within the Lekki Free Trade Zone made effective traffic management essential to maintaining uninterrupted vehicular movement.
Reacting to the concerns, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, acknowledged the congestion along the Lekki Port corridor but said the situation was not permanent.
Osiyemi explained that the gridlock was sometimes intensified by rumours of impending increases in petroleum product prices, which he said could trigger a rush by truck drivers seeking to evacuate products before any adjustment.
He assured stakeholders that the state government remained committed to enforcing traffic regulations while ensuring that enforcement activities did not unnecessarily disrupt businesses.
“We cannot enforce regulations by force, so as not to trigger any form of protest. We understand that sometimes there is a rush to the port to load products due to rumours of a price hike, and in such cases, we deploy trucks to designated parks to ease vehicular movement along the corridor,” he said.
Meanwhile, a detachment of the Federal Road Safety Corps was reportedly deployed along the coastal road leading to the port and refinery to support efforts to maintain the free flow of traffic.
The development comes shortly after the Lagos State Government announced plans to intensify enforcement along the Apapa and Lekki Port corridors following feedback from stakeholders and an assessment of the traffic situation.
At a strategy meeting held at the Ministry of Transportation, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said gaps had been identified in the existing enforcement process, prompting the government to review its strategy.
Giwa said additional traffic management personnel would be deployed to the Lekki Port corridor to improve compliance with the E-Call-Up system and facilitate the movement of articulated trucks into and out of the port.
The stakeholders’ concerns have therefore renewed calls for closer coordination among the Lagos State Government, traffic management agencies, the NPA, truck operators and other port stakeholders to address congestion and improve traffic management along the Lekki corridor.
