NPA Vows to End Indiscriminate Truck Parking, Pushes Greener Cargo Evacuation

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA has pledged to intensify efforts to address indiscriminate truck parking around port access roads, improve cargo evacuation and promote environmentally sustainable port operations.

The Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who was represented by the General Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, made the pledge at the Primetime Reporters’ Annual Lecture and Awards in Lagos, where Dantsoho was honoured with the Maritime Man of the Year Award by the organisers.

Lawal, who spoke on behalf of the NPA Managing Director, said the authority was reviewing its operational ecosystem to address the persistent problem of trucks occupying port access roads and obstructing the movement of cargo owners and other port users.

He expressed optimism that ongoing measures would eventually eliminate the sight of trucks indiscriminately occupying roads around the ports, although he acknowledged that achieving the objective would require time and cooperation from stakeholders.

According to him, the congestion problem is a shared responsibility involving the port authority, truckers, freight forwarders, clearing agents and importers, stressing that all stakeholders must contribute to finding lasting solutions.

He condemned the practice of using port premises and access roads as parking lots, insisting that truck owners must make adequate arrangements for parking their vehicles after completing their business.

The NPA representative lamented that some truckers refuse to leave port terminals after completing their operations, thereby obstructing other users and worsening congestion.

He cited instances where trucks leaving terminals, particularly the facilities operated by the Federal Ocean Terminal and Port Management Company, FPMT, block access routes and prevent other customers from moving their cargo.

He also decried situations in which oversized trucks attempt to exit through restricted spaces, leaving other road users stranded and disrupting port operations.

Lawal urged participants at the conference to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical measures capable of resolving the challenges confronting Nigeria’s maritime industry.

“From the port authority to the importer, the trucker and the agent, we all have issues,” he said, adding that the NPA was working to address the problems it had identified within its operational jurisdiction.

He also criticised the resistance encountered by efforts to enforce basic identification requirements, including the display of vehicle registration numbers on trucks operating around the ports.

According to him, attempts to enforce such requirements have sometimes been met with threats of industrial action by truckers, a development he said reflected the tendency of some stakeholders to prioritise individual interests over the collective good.

Lawal called for a change in attitude, urging industry players to place national interest above personal considerations and cooperate with measures designed to improve efficiency.

Drawing comparisons with international port operations, he cited his recent visit to the Port of Montreal, Canada, where he observed how rail transportation was used to evacuate large volumes of cargo with minimal truck traffic on surrounding roads.

He said the port, which handles approximately 1.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units, TEUs, uses a train stretching about four kilometres, with double-deck capacity, to move containers efficiently.

According to him, the use of electric-powered trains significantly reduces emissions and offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as it pursues greener logistics and more efficient cargo evacuation systems.

He further explained that cargo inspection and scanning processes at the Canadian port were integrated into terminal operations, with scanning conducted as containers were discharged from vessels and stacked, thereby reducing delays and congestion at the gates.

Lawal said such practices demonstrated the importance of technology, coordinated operations and efficient transport infrastructure in improving port performance.

He stressed that Nigeria’s maritime industry could achieve better results if stakeholders embraced practical reforms, complied with operational requirements and worked collectively to address persistent bottlenecks.

The NPA, he assured, remained committed to identifying and resolving operational challenges, while urging other stakeholders to take responsibility for problems within their respective areas.

He concluded by calling for a solution-oriented approach to port administration, insisting that cooperation, discipline and practical implementation were essential to achieving a more efficient and environmentally sustainable maritime sector.

Photo Caption 1: Dr. Adebowale Lawal, General Manager, Lagos Port Complex and representative of the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho delivering his speech at Primetime Reporters’ Annual Lecture and Awards in Lagos on Thursday.

Photo Caption 2: Mr. Adebowale Lawal, General Manager, Lagos Port Complex (Left) receiving the Primetime Reporters’ Maritime Man of the Year Award on behalf of the Managing Director, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho from Dr. Charles Okorefe, MD/CEO, Kamany Marine Services Limited and Keynote lecturer at the event in Lagos On Thursday.

Photo Caption 3: Mr. Adebowale Lawal, General Manager, Lagos Port Complex (left) receiving the medal of honour on behalf of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director, NPA from Dr. Charles Okorefe, MD/CEO, Kamany Marine Services Limited and Keynote lecturer at the event in Lagos On Thursday.

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