Security
Port Relief in Sight: NPA, Police Move Against Illegal Checkpoints
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Police Force have launched a crackdown on unauthorised checkpoints and roadblocks along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors as part of renewed efforts to reduce congestion and improve efficiency on Nigeria’s busiest logistics routes.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr.
According to Dantsoho, investigations uncovered several challenges along the corridors, including illegal extortion points, jurisdictional overlaps among security agencies, and other disruptions slowing cargo movement.
“We have problems along the port corridor in Apapa and Tin Can Island. Now, we have established that there are issues around extortion along the corridor. That is outside the port,” Dantsoho said.
He explained that some of the operational challenges extend beyond the immediate port environment, noting that areas such as Berger and Mile 2 are also part of the affected corridor network.
The NPA boss further identified jurisdictional conflicts among security agencies as a major issue.
“The second issue is the issue of overlap, jurisdictional overlap. In our system, what is established is that there is a police command for the port system, Maritime Police, and then there is also the Lagos State Police Command. So, in some instances, there are clashes, overlaps,” he stated.
Dantsoho said the meeting produced key resolutions aimed at strengthening coordination among stakeholders to ensure smoother operations along the port corridors.
According to him, both the Maritime Police and the Lagos State Police Command denied authorising the establishment of checkpoints on the corridors.
“We have achieved a great lot of success in our discussions. The AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that they do not send anybody to go and form roadblocks or checkpoints on the corridor. Equally, the Lagos Police Command has said the same thing,” he said.
He described the outcome as a significant step toward eliminating delays that have long affected importers and exporters.
Dantsoho added that security agencies, freight forwarders, and government institutions had all committed to deeper collaboration aimed at improving efficiency and positioning Nigeria’s ports among the best in the region.
“Our emphasis will be that we are going to function, and then function better in our practices, so we can do better than our neighboring countries,” he said.
He also noted that Nigeria’s port system has recently earned global recognition for improvement.
“Our port system inside the ports have recently been confirmed as one of the most improved in the world by the World Bank,” Dantsoho said, attributing the achievement to ongoing reforms by the federal government.
He expressed confidence that the agreements reached would significantly reduce congestion and enhance cargo movement along the Apapa and Tin Can corridors.
“I want to thank you for coming to support us. We have achieved a great success from this meeting. The discussions were of high quality, and the outcome, I believe, is also high quality,” he added.
Earlier, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime, Okunade Ronke, rejected claims that police officers were officially deployed to checkpoints along the Lagos port corridors. She maintained that any personnel involved in extorting truckers under such claims were acting illegally.
She said the discussions were productive and resulted in a consensus on a coordinated strategy to address challenges affecting port access roads.
Okunade disclosed that stakeholders agreed to establish a joint task force comprising the Lagos State Government, the NPA, the police, and other relevant bodies to improve operations around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors. The initiative will focus on eliminating extortion and improving traffic flow.
According to her, there are no officially approved police checkpoints along the port access routes. She stressed that any officer claiming deployment from Zone 2 or the Maritime Police for such activities is acting fraudulently and should be reported for disciplinary measures.
“We have never posted officers to any checkpoint around the port environment,” she said, adding that reports of illegal activities would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for investigation and sanctions.
She noted that the new collaborative framework would help streamline enforcement and reduce jurisdictional conflicts that have complicated operations along the corridors.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major step toward addressing persistent concerns over extortion, harassment, and disruptions to cargo movement.
They also agreed that a broader committee would be established, bringing together government agencies, freight forwarders, and transport operators to develop clear terms of reference for sustained monitoring and enforcement.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that the challenge extends beyond transportation and involves security and regulatory enforcement across several jurisdictions.
He added that although illegal operators are occasionally arrested and prosecuted, lasting solutions would require sustained collaboration among all stakeholders.
At the end of the meeting, participants expressed optimism that the coordinated approach would improve security, ease congestion, and boost operational efficiency along the Lagos port corridors.
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