SANITY SHOULD PREVAIL ON OUR ROADS THROUGH COMPLIANCE-LASG URGES ROAD USERS

The Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC) has called on truck owners, drivers, terminal operators and other stakeholders in the maritime transportation sector to cooperate fully with the Lagos State Government in its renewed efforts to restore sanity, compliance and safety across the State’s major ports corridors.

The call followed a Transport stakeholder meeting chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Maroof Olawale Musa, and graced by the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) with the participation of the Lagos State Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and members of his executive, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, and members of the LASTMA leadership, as well as the Chairman of LASTCOC, Alhaji Lukman Shittu Zangalo, and members of the Committee’s leadership.

The meeting examined the persistent challenges affecting the movement of trucks and cargo in maritime corridors in Lagos, particularly the need to prevent avoidable traffic crises, accidents, and loss of lives on the State’s roads.

The Permanent Secretary made the position of the State Government clear: “We want sanity and compliance.”

The meeting was informed that more personnel and equipment would be deployed to strengthen traffic management and improve the effectiveness of operations along the affected corridors.

It was also made clear that the State Government is not interested in making money from truckers through fines or other interventions. Rather, the emphasis is on compliance, orderliness, and the prevention of avoidable incidents that could result in loss of lives and property.

The meeting further observed that intervention by stakeholders may not always be appropriate where the State Government has already established a clear enforcement and compliance framework. The objective is to ensure that truck operators comply with established procedures instead of relying on financial intervention whenever an offence or traffic obstruction occurs.

KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED

The stakeholders considered the following critical areas:

1. Port efficiency

The need for greater efficiency in the evacuation of cargo from the ports was emphasised, particularly because delays within the port system have direct consequences for truck turnaround time and traffic congestion on access roads.

2. Lekki–Epe corridor and call-up system

The existing truck call-up arrangement along the Lekki–Epe axis requires further review to address emerging traffic challenges and ensure that the system adequately reflects the realities of operations along the corridor.

3. Improvement of Apapa call-up system

The meeting called for further improvement of the Apapa truck call-up system, with particular emphasis on reducing unnecessary human intervention and strengthening systems that can make truck movement more predictable, transparent, and efficient.

4. Efficiency of terminal operators

The efficiency and operational practices of terminal operators were also identified as an important part of the solution.

The meeting noted that truckers often bear the immediate consequences of delays and congestion arising from wider systemic challenges within the port and cargo evacuation chain.

It was observed that while truckers suffer losses from prolonged waiting periods, congestion, and operational delays, some corporate entities within the system may continue to receive demurrage payments arising from the same delays

The stakeholders therefore agreed that addressing the problems on the roads alone would not provide a lasting solution without examining the entire cargo evacuation chain.

EXPANDED STAKEHOLDER MEETING PROPOSED

The meeting further proposed an expanded engagement involving the various terminal operators and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), alongside other relevant stakeholders.

The purpose is to bring all sides of the industry to the same table, allow diverse opinions to be heard and develop practical solutions that address the problems from their source rather than merely managing their consequences on the roads.

TRUCKERS URGED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER

Truck operators along the Lekki axis were particularly urged to organise themselves and ensure strict compliance with the established call-up and traffic management arrangements.

The State Ministry of Transportation made it clear that truckers should not expect to resolve traffic violations or operational breaches through payments or informal interventions.

The message from the State Government was unequivocal: truckers’ money is not needed, and fines are not the objective. Compliance and sanity are.

LASTCOC, therefore, urges all truck owners, drivers, terminal operators, and other stakeholders to see the current measures as part of a collective effort to make Lagos roads safer, improve port efficiency and protect lives and businesses.

The Committee believes that a properly coordinated system involving government agencies, port authorities, terminal operators, truckers, and other stakeholders remains essential to achieving sustainable improvement in Lagos maritime transportation.

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