NPA suspends truck release from Lagos ports complex

T The Nigerian Ports Authority has temporarily suspended truck releases from the Lagos Port Complex pre-gate area due to severe congestion currently affecting the port.

This was stated in an official notice addressed to the Truck Transit Park, the traffic management firm responsible for coordinating truck movements along the Apapa port corridor, on Tuesday.

This development is expected to impact logistics, supply chains, and the overall efficiency of cargo movement in and out of one of Nigeria’s busiest ports.

The notice attributed the decision to ongoing severe congestion and explained that port management is closely monitoring the situation to determine when normal operations can resume.

The notice read in part, “Please be informed that there is a temporary hold on truck release from the Lagos Port Complex pre-gates due to ongoing congestion. We are closely monitoring the situation and will relax the hold as soon as conditions improve.”

The congestion has created a bottleneck at the port, delaying the flow of goods and hampering both local and international trade activities.

This has raised concerns across the logistics and transportation sectors, with various stakeholders warning of the economic impact of the congestion.

Reacting to the situation, Mr. Sani Mohammed, an official of the Association of Maritime Transport Owners, attributed the congestion to inefficiencies by terminal operators at the port.

According to him, the port’s operators have failed to manage the inflow and outflow of cargo effectively, exacerbating the congestion problem.

“What we are experiencing is a result of low efficiency by the terminal operators. They have not been able to facilitate the smooth movement of cargo, and yet, they still charge demurrage fees for the delays caused by their inefficiency,” Mohammed stated.