A new report released by a leading maritime consulting firm reveals that more than half of the container trucks visiting Apapa, Lagos daily have no immediate business to transact at the port.
The report, which stems from an independent study conducted by Ships & Ports and a don of the Lagos Business School, Dr. Frank Ojadi, also stated that truckers that genuinely have business to do in Apapa Port spend an average turnaround time of two days.
The report signed by Bolaji Akinola, CEO, Ships & Ports Limited said: “The report was prepared with the purpose of giving insight into the number of container trucks coming into Apapa Port in relation to the total number of trucks sighted in the Apapa environs.
“Two points were selected – the start of Creek Road at the tip of Liverpool Bridge and the start of Wharf Road near Area B – to collect information on trucks coming into Apapa.
“It was observed that 44% of the containers coming into the Apapa community through these access points were intended for transactions in Apapa Port, while 56% do not involve any form of transactions in the port.
“The data gathered was analyzed to show the time and frequency taken from sighting to entry into the port,” the report stated.
A total of 5515 trucks were surveyed at both observation points over a period of two weeks.
The report stated that the prolonged closure of the Ijora Bridge, which is the main exit point from Apapa for repairs, is a major contributor to the perennial traffic congestion in the area.
“The Ijora Bridge is the main exit point from Apapa but it was closed to repairs. 20 days was communicated for the repairs but it is still closed more than 30 days after.
“An alternative route is the Leventis exit by the bridge but this exit is narrow and riddled with several bad spots. The Leventis exit is also characterized by truckers moving against traffic, thus blocking the outbound traffic for several hours. The truckers are aided by security officials who collect money and pass trucks and tankers.
“The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service has also set up checkpoint for container laden trucks along the same road stretch during the day,” the report said.
The report also found that there is no presence of a traffic management system to coordinate the affairs of the multiple government agencies responsible for traffic control in Apapa.
According to the report, “There is no engagement or communication with or to stakeholders before roads are closed and to control abuses and corrupt practices. There are also no tow trucks or rescue equipment to address the constant breakdown of trucks and containers falling along the road.
“The collapse of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, which is the major entry and exit point for trucks accessing the Tin Can Island Port, the Apapa Port and several tank farms in the area, has led to an increased number of trucks accessing these facilities through the narrow Apapa-Wharf road, thereby compounding the congestion on this stretch of road,” the report further stated.
Various stakeholders interviewed in the course of the study believe that the solution to the Apapa gridlock is to compel shipping lines to receive all empties at their empty depots.
The report, however, disagrees stating that “While the popular notion on the return of empty containers have no direct impact on port operations, the study supports the assumption that it may compound the Apapa gridlock. This is because more than 80 percent of truckers perform dual transactions i.e. drop off empties and pick up imports. This implies that the return of empty containers to depots will add more trucks to the road when they have to return the empties to the terminal.”
The report also stated that Apapa Port has recorded significant drop in gate transactions in the last few weeks due to the traffic gridlock.
“Yard Occupancy is currently at 80% which is above the 70% mark for efficient port operations, thereby requiring more resources to be deployed as there are more re-handles to be done.
