On Thursday, a massive blockade of articulated trucks paralyzed the Mile 2–Wharf–Apapa corridor in Lagos, leaving commuters, residents, and business operators trapped for hours. The congestion stretched from the Berger/Kirikiri area toward Apapa, forcing many drivers to give up on their commutes or turn around entirely.
Locals attribute the frequent gridlock to the proliferation of container terminals along the Berger/Kirikiri road. They claim that trucks carrying empty containers to these facilities have monopolized the highway. Residents expressed frustration that agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Customs Service, and the police have failed to resolve the ongoing crisis.
One motorist noted that the traffic intensified following the opening of container terminals near the local Catholic Church. He explained that these facilities draw constant streams of trucks, leading to kilometers of queues that obstruct traffic flow. Despite the presence of the Nigerian Navy, LASTMA, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, the overwhelming number of vehicles ensures that the bottlenecks persist daily.
Frustrated stakeholders are calling for the police, the NPA, and the Customs Service to implement more effective solutions, as the current state of affairs continues to disrupt the livelihoods of those who rely on this vital transportation artery.
