Motorists, commuters, residents and businesses along the Apapa and Lekki-Epe corridors are facing renewed traffic gridlock as the Lagos State Government moves to address worsening congestion linked to truck movements and operational challenges around the ports.

The congestion, which is also affecting the Lekki Free Trade Zone corridor, has prompted the state government to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to examine the causes of the traffic build-up and find measures to restore smoother movement.

The meeting, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, brought together traffic management officials, maritime truck operators, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to review the challenges confronting the corridors.

Musa said the government would intensify enforcement against the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks along the Lekki-Epe corridor, describing the practice as a major impediment to traffic movement and a source of hardship for residents, commuters and other road users.

He said the government would deploy appropriate enforcement measures to prevent road infrastructure from being turned into makeshift truck parks, while urging truck operators to comply with existing traffic regulations and operational guidelines.

Stakeholders identified several factors behind the renewed congestion, including the unauthorised movement of trucks from unregistered or unidentified parks into the port environment.

They also raised concerns about the inability of trucks heading to bonded terminals to exit the port after 6:00 p.m., saying the situation contributes to congestion within terminal facilities and eventually spills over onto adjoining roads.

Another major concern was the operation of the Epe Electronic Call-Up System. Stakeholders noted that some trucks duly called up through the system were still unable to gain access to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, putting additional pressure on the already strained road network.

The meeting also called for an upgrade of the electronic call-up system at Apapa ports to achieve comprehensive automation and improve the movement of trucks into and out of the port environment.

Stakeholders further identified indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles along major traffic corridors as a key factor worsening congestion in Apapa, Lekki-Epe and surrounding areas.

They noted that the combination of poor truck parking practices, call-up system challenges and other operational constraints was putting additional pressure on available road infrastructure, disrupting logistics operations and making movement increasingly difficult for residents and businesses along the corridors.

The stakeholders subsequently agreed on the need for coordinated interventions involving government agencies, port operators, truck owners and other relevant players to address the identified challenges and ease traffic congestion.

Those at the meeting included the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki; senior LASTMA officials; representatives of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners operating along the Lekki and Apapa corridors; representatives of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA); representatives of the Shoppers Council and other stakeholders.