Severe gridlock has returned to the Apapa Port corridor, following the reported collapse of the electronic call-up (E-call-up) system, a development operators and stakeholders blame on racketeering and extortion at checkpoints allegedly manned by touts and personnel linked to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The congestion, which has paralyzed movement along the Ijora–Apapa access roads, has sparked renewed frustration among port users and business owners, who said the chaotic situation is reversing years of effort by both the federal and Lagos State governments to restore sanity to the area.
The E-call-up system, introduced to streamline truck movement and eliminate gridlock, has now become a source of controversy. Stakeholders allege that the platform has been compromised, with “fast-track access” being sold to the highest bidder.
A truck driver, Sheriff Abdullai, lamented that truckers now spend days navigating the system, with bribes allegedly demanded to obtain call-up tickets or gain access to the port. “At every checkpoint, we pay between ₦5,000 and ₦20,000 depending on the truck content. The total can exceed ₦80,000 before accessing the port,” he said.
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) also criticized what it described as a “discriminatory” call-up process that delays compliant truckers while favoring others. Its Secretary, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the system has led to massive financial losses and called for an urgent review to prevent total traffic collapse.
Port operators have echoed similar concerns, alleging collusion between NPA agents and private park managers. According to one operator, Mr. Nnamdi Hamzat, “The three designated parks LillyPond, ABAT, and Ijora-Iganmu are all involved in e-call-up racketeering. They coordinate with NPA officials on truck release schedules.”
Reacting, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation Logistics, Hassan Adekoya, accused NPA policies of enabling extortion, warning that the resulting congestion could worsen the cost of living.
“Ninety percent of trucks now buy NPA tickets on the black market instead of designated parks. Unless the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, intervenes, the gridlock will cripple economic activities and undermine the governor’s stabilization efforts,” Adekoya said.
He urged the Federal Government to investigate and hold accountable those behind the alleged racketeering, adding that Lagos has shown political will but needs federal support to sustain reforms.
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