Lagos Port Corridor Gets 2-Day Cleanup Enforcement

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has launched a two-day enforcement and cleanup exercise along the Lagos Port Corridor. The exercise started on Thursday and will run through Friday, May 15.

PEBEC said the exercise aims to remove illegal structures, clear obstructions, and improve access to the port. Officials say the Lagos Port Corridor has been plagued by overcrowding, illegal parking, and unauthorized trading activities that slow down cargo movement.

Bayo Rotimi, a PEBEC spokesperson, said the exercise involves officers from multiple agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Lagos State Government, and the Nigeria Customs Service. “We are here to restore order and make the port environment work for legitimate business,” Rotimi said.

The Lagos Apapa Port is Nigeria’s busiest seaport and handles a large share of the country’s imports. However, the port has long struggled with congestion, long truck queues, and poor road access. Business groups say these problems cost the economy billions of naira every year.

Officials say the cleanup will also target illegal warehouses and goods stored along the corridor without proper documentation. Vehicles parked illegally will be towed, and traders without permits will be asked to vacate the area.

The Apapa port area has been a source of national concern for years. Long queues of trucks often stretch for kilometers along key roads, blocking traffic and making life difficult for residents. Despite several past interventions, the problem has continued.

PEBEC said it will assess the outcome of the two-day exercise and consider a permanent enforcement presence in the corridor. The council said improving the port environment is a key part of President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.

Business owners operating near the port said they welcome the exercise but called on the government to make it a permanent effort. “A two-day cleanup is not enough. We need consistent enforcement and infrastructure upgrades,” said one warehouse operator who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity.

PEBEC said it plans to hold similar exercises at other key economic corridors across the country in the coming months.