Severe traffic congestion has returned to the Apapa Port axis following the reported collapse of the electronic call-up (E-call-up) system. Operators and stakeholders blame the situation on alleged racketeering and extortion at checkpoints reportedly controlled by touts and individuals linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The gridlock, which has crippled movement on the Ijora–Apapa corridor, is causing renewed outrage among port users, who say the chaos is undoing years of federal and state efforts to ease traffic in the area.
Initially introduced to regulate truck movement, the E-call-up system is now being accused of corruption, with stakeholders alleging that access is being sold to the highest bidder.
A visit by Vanguard on October 23, 2025, revealed long queues of trucks stretching from Marine Bridge to Sifax, exacerbated by ongoing road repairs. Touts in reflective jackets were seen collecting unofficial fees from drivers at multiple checkpoints.
Truck driver Sheriff Abdullai reported that drivers now spend days trying to access the port, alleging that bribes are demanded to obtain call-up tickets. “At each checkpoint, we pay between ₦5,000 and ₦20,000 depending on the cargo. Sometimes it totals over ₦80,000 before we reach the port,” he lamented.
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) described the process as discriminatory, saying compliant operators are unfairly delayed while others fast-track their access through payments. AMATO’s Secretary, Sani Mohammed, warned that the system is causing significant financial losses and called for an urgent overhaul.
Port operators further accused NPA officials and private park managers of colluding in the alleged racketeering. According to operator Nnamdi Hamzat, all three designated truck parks—LillyPond, ABAT, and Ijora-Iganmu—are involved in manipulating release schedules for profit.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant on Transportation Logistics to the Lagos State Governor, Hassan Adekoya, said NPA policies are enabling extortion. He warned that the resulting congestion could worsen inflation and cripple economic activities. He called on the Federal Government and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to intervene.
NPA’s Response
Although the Port Manager, Mr. Debor Ibrahim, could not be reached, the NPA recently announced a temporary suspension of truck movements from pre-gate areas into the Lagos Port Complex to clear cargo backlogs. In a statement issued through its technical partner, Transit Truck Parks (TTP), the agency said the suspension is a short-term measure to restore order.
“The release of trucks will resume once terminal capacity improves,” the statement noted.
The recurring gridlock in Apapa continues to cost the Nigerian economy trillions of naira annually, while worsening health and security risks for road users and residents.
