Customs, Police Unite to Clear Apapa Port Gridlock, Boost Efficiency
In a renewed push to restore order and efficiency to Nigeria’s busiest seaport corridor, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Command and the Nigeria Police Force (Port Authority Command) have announced a joint operation to end the persistent Apapa gridlock — a move expected to unlock billions in trade value and accelerate cargo movement.
During a strategic meeting in Lagos, Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, and the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Port Authority Command, CP Toyin Agbaminoja, agreed to collaborate on clearing access roads, strengthening law enforcement, and improving coordination between agencies.
“The Apapa corridor is Nigeria’s main trade artery. Any disruption here directly affects our national revenue and business confidence,” Oshoba warned.
The Economic Cost of Gridlock
The Apapa traffic congestion — largely caused by breakdowns in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) e-call-up system and poor traffic management — has repeatedly slowed cargo evacuation, inflated logistics costs, and discouraged investors.
Oshoba said the Customs Command’s revenue generation capacity depends heavily on unhindered access roads and efficient traffic flow, stressing that trade facilitation and port accessibility were inseparable.
“Please help us keep this corridor free and safe for seamless trade facilitation. Traffic disruptions hurt our revenue and distort the ease of doing business,” Oshoba appealed to the new police commissioner.
Customs-Police Alliance: Restoring Order and Efficiency
Oshoba reaffirmed that the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, prioritizes collaboration, consultation, and consolidation across all security and enforcement agencies.
He said the synergy between Customs and Police would focus on:
- Decongesting access routes to Apapa and Tin Can Ports
- Enhancing security intelligence-sharing
- Curbing extortion, illegal checkpoints, and traffic racketeering
- Protecting cargoes, drivers, and port workers
“In modern border management, intelligence sharing is key. Customs cannot succeed without the police — our partnership must remain strong and purposeful,” Oshoba added.
Police Reaffirm Commitment to Port Security
In her remarks, CP Toyin Agbaminoja assured the Customs Command of the police’s full cooperation, describing the relationship between both agencies as historical and strategic.
“The police is the mother of the customs — we share roots and responsibilities. Port security is national security,” she said.
Agbaminoja emphasised that the Apapa–Tin Can–Iganmu axis remains a critical economic lifeline, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s non-oil revenue. She pledged to strengthen operational coordination and stamp out inter-agency rivalry, calling for unity of purpose in safeguarding the port environment.
“We will protect every stakeholder within the port and ensure industrial peace. The port’s security and that of its workers are central to Nigeria’s economic stability,” she assured.
BRANDECONOMY Analysis: Why This Matters
The Customs–Police collaboration to clear the Apapa Port Gridlock marks a major step toward restoring sanity and efficiency at the Apapa Port — responsible for nearly 70% of Nigeria’s import-export trade.
Experts say sustained enforcement, coupled with digital traffic monitoring, could save the economy over ₦5 billion monthly in lost productivity and logistics delays.
Beyond clearing roads, the partnership is also symbolic — reflecting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to modernize Nigeria’s ports, attract investment, and enhance trade competitiveness across West Africa. Delivering on this agenda, would be delivering prosperity to Nigerian businesses and citizens.
