Growing sanitation concerns along the Apapa port corridor have triggered fresh criticism from truck operators, residents and maritime stakeholders, who say open defecation, indiscriminate waste disposal and poor environmental conditions are turning one of Nigeria’s busiest economic gateways into a public health concern.
The situation has sparked a dispute between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Apapa Local Government Area over responsibility for maintaining cleanliness around the port access roads.
Stakeholders argue that despite the strategic importance of the corridor and the significant revenue generated through port-related activities, environmental conditions have continued to deteriorate. A recent visit to the area revealed scenes of open defecation, public urination and accumulated waste around long queues of trucks waiting to access the ports.
An official of the Apapa Local Government, who spoke anonymously, said the municipality faces limitations because the port corridor falls under federal jurisdiction. According to the official, local government sanitation workers routinely clean the area, but persistent truck congestion and restricted authority make effective waste management difficult.
The official also lamented that the council receives no direct revenue from port operations despite bearing part of the environmental burden created by activities around the corridor. He explained that companies operating within the port do not contribute rates or levies to the local government, making sanitation efforts increasingly challenging.
National President of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), Yinka Aroyewun, argued that the NPA benefits substantially from truck-related operations and should play a greater role in addressing sanitation concerns.
According to him, revenue generated through truck call-up operations amounts to an estimated N5 billion monthly, making environmental management around the corridor a critical responsibility. Stakeholders maintained that truck activities are central to the functioning of the ports and therefore require supporting infrastructure that promotes hygiene and public health.
Chairman of the Truckers Alliance, Bello Rildwan, described the situation as a consequence of broader operational failures within the port logistics system. He argued that prolonged truck queues and inefficient traffic management contribute significantly to the sanitation crisis.
According to him, if trucks were admitted into the ports based on actual operational demand, drivers would spend less time stranded on access roads and the pressure on surrounding facilities would reduce considerably. Rildwan also called for the installation of restrooms and sanitation facilities for drivers, noting that similar provisions exist in well-managed transport environments globally.
Secretary-General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mohammed Sani Bala, said trucks remain essential to port operations and should be supported with adequate welfare infrastructure.
He urged authorities to provide mobile toilets, waste bins and other sanitation facilities through corporate social responsibility initiatives. According to Bala, environmental standards around Nigeria’s major ports should reflect international best practices given the economic significance of the facilities.
Responding to the concerns, NPA spokesperson and General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said environmental management outside port premises falls under the jurisdiction of local authorities. He maintained that the responsibility for sanitation around the corridor does not lie solely with the federal port administration and called for collaborative efforts among relevant stakeholders.
The growing sanitation crisis along the Apapa port corridor has highlighted longstanding concerns about infrastructure, traffic management and environmental responsibility around Nigeria’s busiest maritime hub. Stakeholders are now calling for coordinated action from government agencies, local authorities and industry operators to improve sanitation standards and restore the corridor’s image as a critical gateway to the nation’s economy.
