LAGOS: The Lagos State Government has raised strong objections to the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) recent decision to shift operational focus from Lagos ports to the Warri Port Complex, a move NPA claims is intended to ease mounting congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
According to operational reports released by the NPA, cargo throughput and operational efficiency at the rehabilitated Warri and Koko ports have improved significantly, signalling early benefits from the strategic redistribution of port activities.
However, Lagos authorities maintain that the move does not address the root cause of the persistent congestion in the state.
Adekoya Hassan, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos Governor on Transportation and Logistics, emphasised that the problem is not the Lagos ports themselves but long-standing policy and operational shortcomings within the NPA.
The decision to divert attention from Lagos ports to Warri due to congestion highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the NPA’s policies.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has remained committed to resolving traffic issues in the Apapa corridor, but entrenched institutional practices within the NPA continue to undermine these efforts.
Hassan identified multiple factors contributing to the congestion, including excessive toll points, a malfunctioning e-call-up system, favoritism and racketeering, abuse of authority by senior officials, and misleading narratives propagated by some truck unions.
He argued that these systemic challenges, rather than the capacity of Lagos ports, are the primary drivers of the gridlock that has plagued the corridor for years.
He further noted that if the NPA modernised its operational framework and aligned it with contemporary economic realities, congestion at Apapa could be significantly reduced, making the shift of operations to Warri both unnecessary and unpopular among stakeholders.
Hassan also urged federal authorities, including President Bola Tinubu, to understand the real causes of Lagos port congestion. It is crucial that the accurate picture is presented to the President.
The internal practices and policy gaps within the NPA remain the biggest obstacles to achieving smooth and efficient port operations in Lagos,” he said.
The Lagos government has reiterated its commitment to improving port traffic management and infrastructure while insisting that any long-term solution must involve reforming institutional policies, rather than merely relocating operations to other ports.
The debate over the Warri port shift underscores the growing tension between federal and state authorities in addressing Nigeria’s chronic port congestion problem, highlighting the need for coordinated policy reforms and accountability in port management.
