In a joint effort to address congestion and improve efficient cargo movement, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have clarified that no checkpoints or roadblocks have been approved along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.
The managing director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this after a stakeholder meeting in Lagos involving security agencies, freight forwarders, and other port users, aimed at resolving operational bottlenecks along the corridor.
He explained that the meeting examined key challenges affecting the port access roads, including illegal activities outside the port environment and jurisdictional overlaps between security agencies.
“We have problems along the port corridor in Apapa and Tin Can Island. Now, we have established that there are issues around expulsion along the corridor. That is outside the port,” Dantsoho said.
He noted that the corridor extends beyond the immediate port terminals, covering key access routes such as Mile 2 and Berger, which are also affected by congestion and enforcement issues.
According to him, one of the major concerns raised was the overlap in responsibilities between different security formations operating in the corridor.
“The second issue is the issue of overlap, jurisdictional overlap. In our system, what is established is that there is a police command for the port system, Maritime Police, and then there is also the Lagos State Police Command. So, in some instances, there are clashes, overlaps,” he said.
Dantsoho, however, said the meeting recorded significant progress, especially with clarification from security agencies that no official approval exists for checkpoints along the corridors.
“We have achieved a great lot of success in our discussions… The AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that they do not send anybody to go and form roadblocks or checkpoints on the corridor. Equally, the Lagos Police Command has said the same thing,” he stated.
He added that the clarification is expected to reduce operational disruptions and improve traffic flow for importers and exporters using the corridor.
Dantsoho further revealed that all stakeholders, including security agencies and port operators, have agreed to deepen collaboration to enhance efficiency and eliminate delays.
He also highlighted recent improvements in Nigeria’s port operations, noting that international assessments have recognised progress in efficiency.
“Our port system inside the ports have recently been confirmed as one of the most improved in the world by the World Bank,” he said, attributing the gains to ongoing reforms under the federal government.
The NPA boss expressed optimism that the new commitments would translate into smoother operations and a more efficient port corridor system.
“We have achieved a great success from this meeting. The discussions were of high quality, and the outcome, I believe, is also high quality,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the assistant inspector-general of Police in charge of Maritime, Okunade Ronke, denied claims that police officers are deployed to checkpoints along the Lagos port corridors, insisting that any personnel found extorting truckers under such pretenses are acting illegally.
She said the discussions were productive and had produced a consensus on a coordinated way forward to address the challenges affecting port access roads.
Okunade explained that agencies agreed to establish a joint task force comprising the Lagos State Government, the NPA, the police, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure smoother operations around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors, with a focus on eliminating extortion and improving traffic flow.
According to her, there are no officially sanctioned police checkpoints along the port access routes, stressing that any officer found operating under claims of deployment from Zone 2 or the Maritime Police is acting fraudulently and should be reported for disciplinary action.
“We have never posted officers to any checkpoint around the port environment,” she said, adding that complaints of illegal activity would be escalated to the appropriate authorities for investigation and sanction.
She noted that the new collaborative framework would help streamline enforcement and reduce jurisdictional conflicts that have previously complicated operations along the corridor.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), welcomed the move, describing it as a step toward addressing long-standing concerns about extortion, harassment, and disruption of cargo movement.
They also agreed that a broader committee would be constituted, bringing together government agencies, freight forwarders, and transport operators to develop clear terms of reference for sustained monitoring and enforcement.
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