The Apapa gridlock, a notorious traffic congestion that once crippled the area, has resurfaced, threatening to paralyze movement and port operations. The evening commute has become a nightmare for residents, commuters, and port workers as truckers and tankers flood the port access roads daily, causing severe congestion.

Investigations reveal that while Apapa roads are relatively free during the day, a massive queue of trucks forms by evening from both the Costain and Mile 2 entry points. The queue stretches from the Ijura-Olopa Bridge to Apapa and from Coconut Bus Stop to Tin Can Island’s gates, with truckers allegedly paying between N30,000 and N50,000 to secure a spot in the queue.

Sources claim that some officials from key agencies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police, are complicit in the illegal toll collection. These officials are accused of turning a blind eye to the situation, allowing the gridlock to worsen.

The congestion has severely impacted several areas, including Wharf Road, Warehouse Road, Commercial Road, Burma Road, and Creek Road. By 5 PM, vehicle owners often abandon their cars and resort to motorcycles to escape the gridlock, while their cars remain stuck in the affected areas until the end of the workday.

Moses Fadipe, former National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), attributes the resurgence of the gridlock to the return of vested interests that previously profited from the chaos. He believes that the Lagos State Government is aware of the necessary steps to prevent a full-blown crisis but has not taken decisive action.

Martins Enibeli, President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and the Nigerian Licensed Ship Chandlers Association (NILSCA), blames government inaction for the relapse. He urges authorities to prioritize rail transport for cargo evacuation from Lagos ports and revive Eastern and Delta ports to ease pressure on Apapa.

A senior official, speaking anonymously, confirms that a syndicate involving state and non-state actors is profiting from the tolls collected from truckers, exacerbating the traffic crisis. Stakeholders are calling for urgent federal intervention to dismantle the alleged racketeering network and restore sanity to Apapa’s transport corridors.

To address the gridlock, Enibeli suggests relocating bonded terminals far from the ports and connecting them by rail. He also recommends that the government prioritize rail transport and distribute port operations across different regions, rather than concentrating them in the West.