By: Kareem Malik.
The management of Tin Can Island Port has dismissed reports of renewed traffic congestion along the port corridor, insisting that sustained interventions by relevant authorities have restored free movement of trucks and ended gridlock around the facility.
The clarification followed an online report in mid-September which raised concerns over alleged bypassing of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) truck call-up system and Transit Truck Parks (TTPs) by some truck drivers, as well as traffic congestion along the corridor.
In a statement issued on behalf of the port management, MVGC Consult said the concerns should be viewed against the substantial progress made in tackling truck-related congestion around Tin Can Island Port over the past three years.
According to the management, the NPA, Lagos State Government and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had constituted a joint task force to address the congestion, resulting in improved traffic management and restoration of free movement along the corridor.
It said the intervention had remained sustainable, enabling thousands of trucks to access the port through a coordinated admittance system for legitimate operations.
The management also explained that the port operates designated time belts for the admission of empty containers and trucks, stressing that the presence of trucks entering the facility during such periods should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of gridlock.
“There is, therefore, no gridlock of any kind on the Tin Can Island Port corridor. The era of gridlock is over,” the management stated.
It attributed the increased truck activity currently witnessed around the corridor to higher cargo throughput and export activity, which it linked to ongoing operational interventions under the leadership of NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.
The management said the rise in legitimate port traffic was an indication of growing activity rather than a return to the severe congestion that previously characterised the corridor.
It also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise Tin Can Island Port, citing the reported approval of $1 billion in United Kingdom financing for projects covering quay apron upgrades, increased water depth and reconstruction of ageing infrastructure.
The management further referenced the World Bank’s recognition of Tin Can Island Port among the world’s most improved ports, describing the development as evidence of progress in trade facilitation and port efficiency.
It said the combination of improved traffic management and infrastructure development was positioning Tin Can Island Port as a more competitive West African maritime hub capable of serving shipping lines, cargo owners, terminal users and other stakeholders.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining improvements in port operations and traffic management while supporting the broader objective of strengthening Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.
