Motorists, truck drivers, and other road users in the Mile 2–Kirikiri axis of Apapa, Lagos State, yesterday decried the worsening traffic congestion in the area. The gridlock, which has severely disrupted deliveries and forced commuters to spend hours on the road, has become increasingly pronounced since the commencement of operations at a new terminal.
This development persists despite the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) introduction of a code designed to regulate the movement of empty containers into seaport terminals and ease congestion along the Apapa and Tin Can Island corridors.
Residents and stakeholders attribute the situation largely to poor road infrastructure and inadequate traffic coordination. A Kirikiri resident, Godwin, noted that the limited space for trucks to manoeuvre exacerbates the problem, with vehicles often joining the main road improperly and worsening the gridlock. He further lamented the narrow and deteriorating condition of the access road, which has led to frequent accidents.
Truck drivers expressed frustration over the lack of effective coordination between terminal operators, police, and traffic management officials. One driver, Ifeanyi Akachukwu, stressed that indiscriminate queuing and delays in processing trucks block the entire road, affecting not only drivers but all road users.
Another driver, Ibrahim, reported spending over three hours in traffic, while tanker driver Gbenga recalled that the route was previously free-flowing before the terminal began operations. He appealed to government authorities to intervene urgently.
Visits to terminals such as HEZEGOVIN Logistics Limited, AGL Africa Global Logistics, and Bestaf Container Terminal revealed long queues of trucks waiting for access, often spilling onto adjoining roads and occupying significant portions of the carriageway, thereby slowing traffic towards Mile 2.
Task force officials monitoring the area attributed the congestion to the narrow access road and the surge in truck volume following the diversion of container movements to the new terminal. They emphasized that while road repairs had been carried out, the sheer number of trucks queuing for entry continues to overwhelm the corridor.
