The Federal Government has announced a major clean up and enforcement operation aimed at restoring order and improving efficiency along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors in Lagos, two of Nigeria’s busiest and most economically important maritime routes.
The operation, which is scheduled to take place on May 14 and 15, 2026, is being coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council through its Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee as part of broader reforms targeted at improving trade facilitation and reducing the long standing congestion problems around the nation’s seaports.
According to the Federal Government, the exercise is designed to tackle several challenges that have plagued the port environment for years, including severe traffic congestion, illegal checkpoints, indiscriminate parking of trucks, environmental pollution, extortion activities, and the presence of illegal structures obstructing movement within the corridors. Officials say these issues have continued to disrupt cargo transportation, increase business costs, delay port operations, and weaken the efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics and maritime sector. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
In a statement issued by the Director General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, the government described the clean up exercise as a strategic intervention aimed at creating a more organised, secure, transparent, and investor friendly port environment capable of supporting economic growth and boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.
The Apapa and Tin Can port corridors have for years remained notorious for gridlock caused by thousands of trucks struggling to access the ports daily. Businesses operating within the area have repeatedly complained about delays that sometimes stretch into days or weeks, leading to higher transportation costs, damaged goods, missed shipping deadlines, and increased prices of imported products across the country. Maritime experts have also argued that the congestion problem has negatively affected Nigeria’s reputation as a major West African trade hub.
Government officials say the upcoming enforcement operation will involve several major agencies and stakeholders, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Government agencies, port terminal operators, transport unions, and other regulatory and security bodies operating around the ports. The coordinated effort is expected to focus on traffic control, removal of operational bottlenecks, elimination of illegal checkpoints, enforcement of environmental sanitation standards, and restoration of public order within the affected corridors.
Authorities insist that the operation is not intended to disrupt legitimate business activities but rather to create a more predictable and efficient environment for freight forwarders, clearing agents, truck operators, importers, exporters, and other port users. The government also urged all stakeholders to cooperate with enforcement officials and comply with lawful directives during the exercise.
The latest move comes amid broader efforts by the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s port infrastructure and improve maritime operations. Earlier this year, the government confirmed plans for the large scale upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports through a major financing agreement supported by the United Kingdom Export Finance initiative. The project is expected to include dredging, infrastructure rehabilitation, and expansion works designed to accommodate larger cargo vessels and improve overall port capacity.
Economic analysts believe that improving access to the Lagos ports is critical to reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria, especially as the ports handle a large percentage of the country’s imports and exports. Many industry operators have argued that unless congestion and inefficiency are addressed, businesses will continue to suffer huge financial losses linked to delays, high logistics costs, and supply chain disruptions.
Observers say the success or failure of the new clean up exercise could become a major test of the government’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s maritime sector and improving ease of doing business in Africa’s largest economy.
