The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has highlighted the scale of congestion on the Apapa port access road in Lagos, revealing that the route, designed to accommodate approximately 2,400 trucks daily, previously carried more than 7,000.
NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, made the disclosure while speaking at the African Ports Conference in Casablanca, Morocco. He said the congestion had undermined operational reliability, increased delays and threatened the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime trade.
Dantsoho recalled that cargo previously remained at Lagos ports for as long as three weeks, underscoring the challenges faced by importers, exporters and other port users.
He credited the introduction of the Eto electronic truck call-up system with helping to address gridlock along the port access corridors. He also highlighted the launch of the National Single Window and a beta version of the Port Community System to improve coordination among Customs, terminal operators, shipping lines and regulators.
According to Dantsoho, Nigeria’s port operations have recorded improvements. He cited the World Bank’s 2025 Container Port Performance Index, released in June 2026, which ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th and Apapa Port 12th among the world’s most improved ports. He also reported that cargo throughput rose by 24.8 per cent to 129.3 million metric tonnes in 2025.
The congestion challenge highlights the importance of coordinated investment in road access, cargo movement and digital systems. Sustained improvements could help reduce delays, lower logistics costs and make Nigerian ports more competitive.
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