Oil cartels, tanker operators, enforcement agencies blamed for Apapa, Kirikiri gridlock

Author: Udeme Akpan, Godwin Oritse & Efe OnodjaePublished on: July 13, 2026Country: Nigeria
Business & EconomyCrime & Law
Oil cartels, tanker operators, enforcement agencies blamed for Apapa, Kirikiri gridlock

Oil cartels, independent petroleum marketers, tanker owners, drivers, transport unions and some enforcement agencies are accused of sustaining the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos' Apapa and Kirikiri corridors, crippling businesses and disrupting daily life. Thousands of businesses and residents bear the economic and social costs of the persistent congestion. Petroleum distribution activities involving companies such as TotalEnergies, Conoil, Bovas Oil, Rahamaniyya, Obat Oil, Techno Oil, Aiteo, MRS Oil, Ardova, NIPCO, Integrated Oil & Gas, Folawiyo Energy, Matrix Energy, Eterna and Northwest Petroleum are at the center of the crisis. Stakeholders blame poor logistics planning, inadequate truck holding facilities, indiscriminate roadside parking, weak enforcement and corruption.

Stay informed with NewsBoulevard

Get the latest news summaries delivered to your inbox

Related News

Navy dismantles 48 illegal refineries, arrests 91 suspects in anti-oil theft crackdown
Crime & LawBusiness & EconomyNigeria
Kingsley Omonobi

Navy dismantles 48 illegal refineries, arrests 91 suspects in anti-oil theft crackdown

The Nigerian Navy dismantled 48 illegal refinery sites and recovered approximately 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during the second quarter of 2026. Over 91 suspects were arrested for crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and militancy in the Niger Delta. Operations under Operation Delta Sentinel led to the interception of several vessels, including tankers MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K, linked to the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude. Navy Director of Information Captain Abiodun Folorunsho noted that these results coincide with the NUPRC announcement that Nigeria's crude production reached 1.735 million barrels per day in June 2026, representing 104% of its OPEC quota.

Read More

Stay Updated with NewsBoulevard

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news summaries delivered to your inbox

Learn more