By Iroyin Yoruba Television
Transport operators using the Lagos port access corridor have raised fresh concerns over alleged illegal checkpoints, toll collection and harassment of truck drivers, following a dispute between the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations and the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operations Committee.
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations, known as COMTUA, said on Saturday, October 3, that its members were facing renewed disruptions along routes connecting the nation's major Lagos ports.
The union's complaint centres on allegations that checkpoints had been re-established along sections of the corridor despite a recent meeting involving transport stakeholders and the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command.
According to COMTUA, the meeting was convened to address operational problems affecting the movement of trucks and cargo around the ports and followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police concerning illegal roadblocks and alleged extortion on port transit routes.
The union said representatives of transport operators and LASTCOC attended the meeting at the headquarters of the Western Ports Command.
COMTUA said the stakeholders agreed that unions, associations and committees should not mount checkpoints or collect levies, tolls or tickets along specified port access routes.
The routes identified by the union include the corridor from Coconut through Tin Can and Apapa to Mile 2, as well as the route from Ijora to Apapa Port.
The agreement was intended to support the free movement of trucks and reduce the operational problems that have affected access to the ports.
COMTUA, however, alleged that the arrangement did not last.
The organisation said LASTCOC operatives returned to parts of the corridor less than 24 hours after the meeting and resumed what the union described as illegal roadblocks, toll collection and harassment of truckers.
These allegations are made by COMTUA and have not been independently established in the material reviewed for this report.
The dispute is nevertheless significant because the Lagos port corridors are critical routes for the movement of imported and exported goods.
Apapa and Tin Can Island ports handle substantial volumes of cargo entering and leaving Nigeria, while thousands of trucks and other commercial vehicles depend on the surrounding road network.
Disruptions on the access routes can therefore affect more than truck drivers.
They can influence the speed at which cargo reaches ports, the movement of containers to inland destinations and the overall cost of logistics.
For businesses that depend on imported raw materials or export markets, delays along port corridors can add to transportation and handling costs.
Truck operators also face direct costs when vehicles spend extended periods in traffic or encounter multiple stops along a route.
The latest disagreement therefore touches on a wider issue of transportation efficiency and the cost of moving goods through Nigeria's maritime gateways.
COMTUA said the recent police meeting was intended to address those problems and establish clear rules for activities along the corridor.
The union said one of the key resolutions was that no union, association or committee should conduct its own business, establish checkpoints or collect any form of levy, toll or ticket on the designated port routes.
Such a directive, if enforced consistently, would mean that truck operators should not face unauthorised financial demands while travelling between the ports and their destinations.
COMTUA said it was concerned that the alleged return of checkpoints could undermine the agreement and create additional tension among truckers.
The union warned that continued disputes could affect public order around the port corridor if they are not addressed.
It has therefore called on security agencies to intervene and enforce the resolutions reached at the police meeting.
The organisation specifically called on the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, to disband the checkpoints it describes as illegal and investigate and prosecute individuals found to have violated the directive.
COMTUA also urged its members not to pay money at checkpoints that it considers unauthorised.
The union's position is that payments at such locations encourage the continuation of illegal collection practices.
The dispute comes against a background of repeated efforts by government agencies to improve the Lagos port corridors.
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has previously conducted enforcement and clean-up operations around the ports, including exercises aimed at removing illegal checkpoints and addressing other obstacles to cargo movement.
Earlier interventions identified issues including unauthorised truck parking, illegal access points, touting and unauthorised agents.
Those exercises were intended to improve the efficiency of port access and reduce practices that add unnecessary delays to the movement of cargo.
The latest complaint from COMTUA indicates that maintaining improvements along the corridor remains a challenge.
The recurrence of allegations concerning illegal checkpoints is particularly important because similar concerns have been raised during previous efforts to improve transportation around Apapa and Tin Can.
The Nigerian Ports Authority and other agencies have previously participated in efforts to reduce congestion and improve the movement of trucks.
Lagos State authorities have also introduced measures intended to regulate truck movement and reduce interference with traffic along port access routes.
These efforts demonstrate that the issue is not simply about individual drivers and checkpoints.
It involves coordination between several government agencies, transport unions, port operators and logistics companies.
The ports operate within a complex transportation system where trucks must move through roads shared with other motorists and residents.
When large numbers of articulated vehicles converge on the same routes, traffic congestion can develop quickly.
Illegal or unauthorised stops can make that situation worse by slowing the movement of trucks and creating additional queues.
For businesses, delays can affect delivery schedules and increase the amount of time cargo remains in transit.
For residents living around port corridors, heavy truck traffic can also create congestion and increase pressure on road infrastructure.
The management of the corridors therefore requires coordination between transportation authorities, security agencies and port operators.
Clear rules about which agencies have authority to stop trucks can help reduce confusion.
The recent police meeting was reportedly intended to establish such clarity.
COMTUA said the agreement specifically prohibited unions, associations and committees from mounting checkpoints or collecting tolls along the designated routes.
The organisation's complaint suggests that enforcement of the agreement has become the immediate issue.
The union is calling for the police command to ensure that the decisions reached at the meeting are implemented.
The allegations against LASTCOC remain allegations made by COMTUA.
A full assessment would require a response from LASTCOC and, where appropriate, independent verification by the relevant authorities.
That distinction is important because the dispute involves competing claims about what is authorised on the port corridor and whether particular checkpoints or collections are lawful.
The wider transportation issue, however, is clear: truck operators and government agencies have an interest in keeping the port routes functional and preventing unnecessary delays.
Efficient port transportation is closely connected to Nigeria's trade system.
Imported goods must move from ports to warehouses, factories, distribution centres and markets.
Exports must travel from production centres to ports for shipment to international destinations.
Any disruption along these routes can therefore affect supply chains beyond Lagos.
For manufacturers, delays in receiving imported inputs can interrupt production schedules.
For distributors, delayed cargo can affect inventory availability.
For exporters, delays can create problems with shipping schedules and delivery commitments.
Transport operators themselves can face additional fuel, maintenance and labour costs when trucks spend long periods waiting.
These costs can eventually feed into the prices paid by businesses and consumers.
The government's broader objective of improving the ease of doing business is therefore connected to transportation efficiency around the ports.
Reducing unnecessary checkpoints and preventing unauthorised charges can potentially make cargo movement more predictable.
Predictability is important to logistics companies because businesses need to estimate how long it will take to move cargo and how much the journey will cost.
When unofficial stops or unexpected payments become part of the journey, those calculations become more difficult.
The issue also affects the working conditions of truck drivers.
Drivers operating heavy-duty vehicles through congested port corridors can spend many hours on the road.
Repeated stops can increase stress and extend working hours.
Long periods of waiting can also reduce the number of trips a truck can complete within a given period, affecting both drivers and transport companies.
The latest COMTUA statement therefore represents a call for greater enforcement of agreed transportation rules.
The union said it remains committed to peaceful operations and the economic importance of the ports but warned that members are becoming increasingly frustrated by what it described as renewed extortion and roadblocks.
The organisation urged authorities to act before the dispute develops into a larger confrontation.
The police meeting provides an existing framework for resolving the immediate issue.
If the Western Ports Command enforces the agreement and clarifies which agencies are authorised to operate checkpoints, some of the uncertainty could be reduced.
The relevant government agencies could also use the dispute as an opportunity to establish clearer monitoring mechanisms.
Such mechanisms could include identifying authorised checkpoints, publishing the agencies responsible for them and providing channels through which drivers can report alleged unauthorised collections.
Transparency can be particularly important where multiple agencies operate around a major transportation hub.
Truck drivers may encounter police officers, port security personnel, traffic-management officials, customs officials and other authorised personnel during a journey.
Without clear identification of legitimate functions and charges, disputes can arise over whether a stop or payment is lawful.
The transportation sector therefore benefits when responsibilities are clearly defined.
The history of the Lagos port corridor shows why this remains an important issue.
Government agencies have repeatedly introduced measures to reduce congestion and eliminate illegal checkpoints.
Some earlier initiatives produced periods of improved traffic flow, but complaints about congestion, truck parking and extortion have continued to reappear.
The challenge is therefore not simply to conduct a one-time enforcement operation.
Sustained monitoring is needed to ensure that prohibited practices do not return after enforcement teams leave an area.
This is particularly important because the economic value of the port corridor makes it attractive to legitimate businesses as well as individuals seeking unauthorised payments.
A permanent system of accountability would require cooperation among the police, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers' Council, Lagos State authorities, transport unions and other stakeholders.
Each institution has different responsibilities, but their activities intersect on the same road network.
The latest dispute demonstrates what can happen when stakeholders disagree about those responsibilities.
COMTUA maintains that the recent police meeting established clear restrictions on checkpoints and toll collection.
The union now wants the police command to enforce those restrictions.
LASTCOC's position would be necessary to establish its response to the allegations and explain the basis, if any, for its activities on the corridor.
Until those claims are addressed, the dispute remains a matter between the involved stakeholders.
For the wider transportation sector, however, the episode highlights the continuing importance of efficient port access.
Nigeria's ports depend heavily on road transportation to connect cargo with destinations across Lagos and other parts of the country.
Rail and other transportation options can complement road freight, but trucks remain a major part of the movement of containers and other cargo.
Improving the road corridors therefore remains essential to port efficiency.
This is why illegal checkpoints, unauthorised levies and unnecessary delays can have consequences beyond the immediate relationship between a truck driver and a roadside official.
They can affect the entire logistics chain.
The Federal Government and Lagos State Government have both previously expressed interest in improving transportation around the ports.
Measures have included enforcement operations, truck-management systems, designated routes and efforts to control parking.
The latest COMTUA complaint suggests that enforcement remains an ongoing requirement.
For truckers, the immediate concern is whether they can move through the port corridors without facing unauthorised stops or payments.
For government agencies, the challenge is to ensure that legitimate traffic controls are not undermined by unauthorised activities.
For port users, the objective is predictable and efficient movement of cargo.
The police meeting offers a potential mechanism for addressing the current dispute because the union says its resolutions were clear.
Enforcement of those resolutions would need to be accompanied by continued monitoring.
The relevant authorities may also need to ensure that any person or organisation operating on the corridor has clearly defined authority and responsibilities.
That could help distinguish legitimate traffic management from unauthorised activity.
The current dispute also highlights the importance of maintaining communication among stakeholders.
Transport unions represent truck drivers and operators, while port agencies and government authorities manage different aspects of the transportation system.
Regular meetings can provide opportunities to identify problems before they become major disruptions.
The October 2 meeting at the Western Ports Command was an example of such engagement.
The immediate challenge is whether its decisions will be implemented.
COMTUA has called for the police command to act quickly, arguing that continued checkpoints could affect economic activity and public order.
The union has also appealed to other agencies, including those responsible for port operations and the business environment, to support enforcement.
The organisation has stated that it does not oppose lawful regulation of the port corridor.
Its objection is specifically to what it describes as unauthorised tolls, roadblocks and extortion.
That distinction is important because port corridors require legitimate regulation.
Authorities need to manage traffic, maintain security and ensure that cargo moves according to established procedures.
The issue is whether those functions are carried out within the applicable rules.
As the dispute develops, the response of the Western Ports Command and other relevant authorities will determine whether the reported checkpoints remain or are removed.
A prompt resolution could help reduce tension among truck operators and prevent disruptions to cargo movement.
A prolonged dispute, by contrast, could add another layer of uncertainty to an already busy transportation corridor.
The Lagos ports are among Nigeria's most important gateways for international trade, making the efficiency of their access roads a national economic concern.
Any measure that reduces unnecessary delays can potentially improve the movement of goods, while any activity that creates additional bottlenecks can increase logistics costs.
For this reason, the latest controversy over checkpoints is being watched by transport operators and other stakeholders whose businesses depend on predictable access to the ports.
The immediate facts are that COMTUA has publicly complained about alleged renewed checkpoints and toll collection, following a police-convened meeting that the union says prohibited such activities.
The union has called for enforcement of the meeting's resolutions and for security agencies to investigate alleged violations.
The allegations concerning LASTCOC require a response from the committee and verification by the appropriate authorities.
What happens next will determine whether the latest dispute becomes another temporary disruption or leads to stronger and more sustained enforcement along the Lagos port corridor.
For now, transport operators are demanding that the rules agreed at the Western Ports Command be respected and that the movement of trucks between the ports and surrounding road network remain free from unauthorised barriers and charges.
The outcome will matter not only to truck drivers but also to importers, exporters, manufacturers, logistics companies and other businesses that rely on Nigeria's busiest maritime transport corridors.
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