The Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to restore smoother traffic movement on some of the state’s busiest maritime and commercial routes following a fresh increase in congestion around the Apapa port axis, Lekki-Epe Expressway and Lekki Free Trade Zone corridor.
The government brought together relevant agencies, maritime organisations, truck operators and other transportation stakeholders at an emergency meeting to examine the causes of the renewed gridlock and develop measures aimed at improving the movement of articulated vehicles.
The meeting, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olawale Musa, focused largely on the challenges confronting truck operations and the impact of heavy-duty vehicles on traffic flow along the affected corridors.
The Lekki-Epe corridor has become increasingly important to the movement of cargo and commercial activities in Lagos, particularly with the operations around the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the wider Free Trade Zone.
As a result, disruptions on the route can affect not only truck operators but also motorists, businesses, residents and other road users.
One of the major concerns raised during the meeting was the continued practice of parking articulated trucks indiscriminately along public roads.
The state government said heavy-duty vehicles should not be allowed to occupy major traffic corridors or turn road infrastructure into temporary parking facilities.
Musa said the government would intensify enforcement against truck operators who park illegally, particularly along the Lekki-Epe route.
According to him, the administration would not permit public roads to be used as makeshift truck parks, stressing that operators must comply with established regulations governing the movement and parking of articulated vehicles.
“The State Government will intensify regulatory and enforcement measures against the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe corridor.
“Road infrastructure will not be converted into makeshift truck parks. Operators must adhere strictly to established traffic regulations and operational protocols,” Musa said.
However, the stakeholders made it clear that illegal truck parking was only one of several factors behind the worsening traffic situation.
Five major issues were identified during the discussions as contributing to the renewed congestion across the Apapa and Lekki corridors.
They include the movement of unregistered trucks from unauthorised parks into port areas, restrictions affecting trucks heading to bonded terminals, technical problems with the Epe Electronic Call-Up System, outdated automation infrastructure at Apapa Port and the staging of articulated vehicles along major roads.
The issue of trucks destined for bonded terminals attracted particular attention during the deliberations.
Stakeholders noted that such vehicles are currently restricted from leaving port facilities after 6pm.
The restriction, they said, can result in trucks remaining within the port environment for extended periods.
As more vehicles accumulate inside the facilities, the pressure on available space increases and may subsequently contribute to congestion within and around the port areas.
Another challenge identified was the Epe Electronic Call-Up System, which is used to regulate scheduled truck movements towards the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Stakeholders said glitches affecting the system have resulted in some trucks being stranded despite having scheduled access.
The situation, according to the participants, creates delays and can contribute to an accumulation of heavy-duty vehicles along the corridor.
The meeting also drew attention to the condition of the automation infrastructure at Apapa Port.
Participants said the existing digital system requires urgent upgrading to support more efficient truck scheduling and port access management.
They argued that improved automation could reduce unnecessary delays, strengthen coordination and provide better control over the number of trucks accessing the port environment at any given time.
The movement of unregistered trucks was also identified as a significant concern.
According to the stakeholders, trucks coming from unauthorised parks and gaining access to port environments can disrupt the established arrangements for managing heavy-duty vehicles.
They therefore stressed the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement to ensure that only properly registered and scheduled trucks are allowed to operate within designated port access arrangements.
The stakeholders further considered the effect of roadside truck staging on ordinary motorists.
When articulated vehicles occupy traffic lanes or stop along major transit routes, the available road space is reduced for other road users. This can create bottlenecks, slow down vehicular movement and cause delays that extend beyond the immediate location of the parked trucks.
The situation can become more challenging during peak travel periods when the number of vehicles using the affected corridors increases significantly.
The emergency meeting was attended by the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, as well as senior officials of the agency.
Representatives of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), including operators working along the Apapa and Lekki corridors, were also present.
Other participants included representatives of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
The involvement of the various stakeholders was aimed at ensuring that the proposed solutions address both the regulatory and operational sides of the traffic challenge.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed on the need to strengthen collaboration among the relevant agencies and private-sector operators.
They also agreed to work towards an overhaul of the digital truck call-up systems while increasing joint enforcement activities along the affected corridors.
The proposed measures are expected to focus on controlling unauthorised truck movements, discouraging illegal parking, improving electronic scheduling and upgrading systems used to coordinate truck access to port facilities.
The Lagos State Government’s renewed intervention comes against the backdrop of the strategic importance of the Apapa and Lekki corridors to the state’s economy.
The routes serve as key links for the movement of cargo, goods and commercial vehicles and connect major maritime facilities with industrial and business locations.
For motorists and residents who depend on the affected roads, the success of the new measures will depend largely on sustained enforcement and effective coordination among the agencies and operators responsible for managing truck traffic.
The stakeholders therefore resolved to continue working together to tackle the identified bottlenecks and improve the movement of articulated vehicles.
With the planned combination of stronger enforcement, improved digital truck management and closer cooperation between government agencies and maritime operators, the state is seeking to prevent further deterioration of traffic conditions and restore more orderly movement along the Apapa, Lekki-Epe and Free Trade Zone corridors.