The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has raised concerns over the potential return of severe gridlock in Apapa due to what they describe as an uncontrolled and biased system for truck passage into the port.
Speaking to Vanguard, AMATO’s Secretary, Mr. Sani Mohammed, attributed the worsening situation to a discriminatory call-up system that frustrates truckers adhering to due process while favoring others.
Mohammed explained that trucks with call-up tickets worth N21, 500 are being detained for extended periods at pre-gates, forcing importers to spend millions on revalidating Terminal Delivery Orders (TDOs). He also alleged that these delays benefit a select group of truckers making multiple trips under the evacuation call-up system and barge operators, leaving other truckers stranded.
“When overstayed trucks are eventually released from pre-gates, they are left to loiter around the port corridor in search of TDOs.
This is when authorities such as LASTMA, the Police, the NPA, and the Task Force swoop in, towing these trucks and imposing exorbitant penalty fees on drivers who are actually victims of a flawed system,” Mohammed lamented.
He stated, “It is unfortunate that we are caught in this web of discriminatory policies. Many of the trucks being detained at pre-gates are also serving the economy, yet they are being sidelined while others gain unhindered access to the ports.”
According to him, the current practice of call-up racketeering, shunting, and policy inconsistencies is fueling congestion along the Apapa port corridor. “When truckers get frustrated with waiting endlessly at pre-gates meant to regulate traffic, they bypass the normal call-up process and opt for direct access, worsening road congestion,” he explained.
Mohammed urged the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to review the direct evacuation call-up system to ensure fairness and prevent a total breakdown of traffic management in Apapa.
He warned that if left unchecked, the worsening situation could trigger severe port congestion, disrupt trade, inflict massive financial losses on businesses, and negatively impact residents and the economy.
He suggested that the NPA either abolish the direct call-up system altogether or introduce stricter conditions for its issuance. “Apapa is gradually slipping back into a traffic nightmare,” he warned.