Maritime Stakeholders Blame Lagos Port Congestion on Cargo Overconcentration

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s marine sector have described the situation as operationally unsustainable and economically detrimental, attributing the ongoing traffic jams and inefficiencies at Lagos ports to the excessive concentration of port activity in the state.

They argued that years of excessive reliance on the Lagos ports— Apapa, Tin Can Island, Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) and Lilypond—have resulted in monumental traffic gridlock, systemic inefficiencies, rising corruption, and severe pressure on port access roads.

As a result, the stakeholders applauded the Federal Government’s increased efforts to modernize and activate eastern ports, pointing out that Lagos and the rest of the nation would benefit economically in the long run.

Concerns expressed by the Lagos State Government that revitalizing eastern ports may lower cargo throughput at Lagos ports were disregarded by industry observers, who maintained that these worries were unfounded and based on incomplete information.

The ports of Calabar (Cross River State), Warri and Koko (Delta State), and Port Harcourt (Rivers State) have been underutilized for many years, driving the majority of import and export cargo into Lagos and taxing the state’s infrastructure.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, however, has taken steps to buck the trend by aiming to modernize and revitalize seaports across the country. According to analysts, the program will increase government revenue, promote balanced regional development, and increase cargo volumes.

In order to put Nigerian ports in a competitive position with those in Europe, Asia, and North America, the President has approved a $1 billion (about N1.6 trillion) port modernization scheme.

At a conference held by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), he also revealed

Procurement procedures for comparable enhancements at eastern ports had already begun in Lagos.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos State Government voiced concerns over the decentralization of port operations after the news. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was criticized by his Senior Special Adviser on Transportation and Logistics, Mr. Adekoya Hassan, for refocusing its operations on ports in Warri and Koko, stating that this could cause traffic jams similar to those in Lagos.

An industry insider, however, pointed out that the decentralization policy was already having an impact, with Warri and Koko ports handling more containers.

The Federal Government’s move, according to maritime analyst Ismail Aniemu, was both essential and timely.

“While some eastern ports like Onne and Port Harcourt are already functional, there is an urgent need to channel more cargo traffic to Warri and Calabar. Dredging is necessary for ongoing maintenance, but the advantages are huge, he noted.

Cargo headed for Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and other eastern cities is routed through Lagos and transported by road, which accounts for a large portion of Lagos’ traffic, according to Aniemu.

Intense rivalry for scarce road space, numerous collisions, shipment losses, and even fatalities have resulted from this. This strain would be lessened and equilibrium restored by reviving eastern ports, he stated.

He went on to say that interior logistics and trade efficiency would be further strengthened by the activation of river ports like Onitsha, which are backed by barges.

Aniemu stated that the policy would boost economic growth throughout the value chain, including employment, investment, security, and tourism, in addition to relieving traffic in Lagos.

“Where maritime trade thrives, hotels, recreation, logistics and other services flourish. This is about Nigeria as a whole, not just Lagos. Lagos cannot accommodate everybody,” he stressed.