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ABUJA – The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have agreed to strengthen collaboration aimed at addressing the persistent traffic congestion along the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports access corridors, while advancing reforms to improve cargo evacuation and the overall ease of doing business at Nigeria’s busiest seaports.
The commitment was reached during a strategic engagement between the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, and the national leadership of ANLCA, led by its National President, Chief Emenike Nwokeoji, at the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
The meeting focused on practical measures to improve operational efficiency at the ports, modernise critical infrastructure and enhance stakeholder participation in traffic management around the nation’s premier maritime gateways.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Dantsoho commended the Port Managers of Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports for their commitment to operational efficiency, attributing recent improvements in port performance to deliberate reforms pursued by the Authority.
He noted that the recent recognition of both ports among the World Bank’s Top 20 Most Improved Ports Globally underscores the impact of ongoing reforms being implemented in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the achievement also reflects Nigeria’s growing influence within the global maritime community, following the country’s emergence as the first President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) and its election as Vice President for Africa in the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
“This global recognition is not accidental; it is the direct result of our strategic and intentional mapping of port processes and our relentless pursuit of excellence. This achievement is further reinforced by Nigeria’s recent diplomatic successes in the maritime sector,” Dr. Dantsoho stated.
Discussions also centred on the Electronic Call-Up System, popularly known as Eto, which regulates truck movements into and out of the Apapa and Tin Can ports.
While acknowledging that the electronic call-up initiative had largely achieved its original objective of restoring order to truck traffic around the ports, the NPA Managing Director said increasing cargo volumes now require a more comprehensive framework capable of delivering a lasting solution to congestion.
“Lagos remains a vital commercial hub for West Africa. To sustain this status, we must aggressively pursue port modernization. Much of our infrastructure is aging and requires comprehensive upgrades to meet international standards, deploy modern cargo-handling equipment, and boost national revenue,” he said.
Nigeria’s port access roads, particularly those serving Apapa and Tin Can Island, have for years been plagued by chronic traffic congestion resulting from heavy truck movements, inadequate infrastructure and operational bottlenecks. Although the introduction of the Eto electronic call-up system significantly reduced indiscriminate truck parking and improved traffic management, stakeholders have continued to advocate reforms that will eliminate racketeering, strengthen enforcement and sustain the gains already recorded.
On his part, Chief Nwokeoji congratulated the NPA management on the international recognition earned by the ports, describing it as a reflection of purposeful leadership and sustained reforms.
He reaffirmed ANLCA’s commitment to policies that facilitate legitimate trade and improve efficiency across Nigeria’s port system, while calling for deeper collaboration between customs brokers and the NPA.
Chief Nwokeoji specifically urged the Authority to involve ANLCA directly in the management and oversight of the electronic call-up system, arguing that the active participation of licensed customs brokers would provide the necessary checks and balances to curb racketeering and eliminate avoidable delays along port access roads.
According to him, greater stakeholder involvement would strengthen transparency and improve the effectiveness of the system.
During the meeting, the ANLCA President formally invited Dr. Dantsoho to the association’s 72nd Anniversary Celebration scheduled to hold later this year.
The association also pledged to work closely with the NPA, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant agencies through a coordinated task force that would monitor truck movements and ensure swift responses to disruptions along the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors.
The renewed collaboration between the NPA and ANLCA is expected to reinforce ongoing efforts to modernise Nigeria’s ports, improve logistics efficiency and position the country’s maritime sector to better support trade, investment and regional economic integration.
