Stakeholders Launch Fresh Push to Clear Lekki Port Gridlock
A coordinated effort to eliminate chronic traffic congestion along the Lekki Deep Sea Port corridor is gaining momentum as key stakeholders have agreed on sweeping measures designed to restore order and improve the movement of goods within Lagos’ rapidly expanding industrial zone.
The resolution was reached during a high-level engagement convened by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which brought together officials of the Lagos State Government, Lekki Port, Dangote Refinery, transport unions, truck owners, and operators of the electronic truck call-up system.
At the heart of the new strategy is a strict ban on indiscriminate parking by trucks and tankers along the corridor. Under the arrangement, vehicles will be required to remain in approved holding bays and only proceed to loading or discharge points after receiving clearance through the designated scheduling process.
The decision followed a joint inspection of major access roads serving the port and surrounding industrial facilities. Stakeholders witnessed firsthand the traffic bottlenecks that have increasingly disrupted logistics operations, commercial activities, and daily commuting along the Lekki-Epe axis.
Determined to prevent the corridor from descending into the kind of prolonged congestion that once crippled operations around the Apapa ports, stakeholders pledged to strengthen enforcement and improve coordination among all operators.
A key issue highlighted during discussions was the movement of trucks operating outside the electronic call-up framework. Some vehicles servicing industrial facilities, particularly those using Authority to Collect (ATC) permits, have reportedly bypassed the digital scheduling system, contributing to roadside parking and traffic build-up. Participants called for wider integration of all truck movements into the electronic platform to ensure smoother and more efficient traffic flow.
Transport associations, including truck owners and petroleum product haulage operators, also committed to sensitising their members on compliance with traffic regulations and operational guidelines.
NPA officials stressed that effective traffic management, supported by technology and stakeholder collaboration, is critical to sustaining economic activities in the Lekki industrial corridor, which hosts major investments such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote Refinery, and the Lekki Free Zone.
As industrial activities continue to expand in the area, authorities believe strict adherence to the electronic call-up system and the use of designated truck parks will be essential in safeguarding the corridor from the gridlock challenges that have historically affected Nigeria’s major port routes.
