Nigeria's largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, has begun a joint drug and alcohol testing campaign with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) targeting external truck drivers operating in the port. The exercise, launched on Sunday, is being conducted at the port entrance with support from Port Police and Port Health Services using breathalyser tests. Lagos Port Manager Adebowale Lawal Ibrahim stated that ensuring drivers are alert and mentally fit is critical to safe port operations. He described the regular testing as a deterrent to substance abuse and praised APM Terminals Apapa for initiating the collaboration. During the latest screening of 30 truck drivers, three tested positive for alcohol use, a figure noted as an improvement over previous tests. APM Terminals Apapa Managing Director Kamal Alhraishat said the initiative aligns with the terminal's recent achievement of 636 days without a Lost Time Injury. He stressed that driving under the influence endangers drivers, port personnel, equipment, and cargo, and that extending safety measures to external operators is necessary. The campaign aims to foster a safety-first culture across the port community through consistent testing and awareness.
Adebowale Lawal Ibrahim insists on driver alertness as key to port safety, yet only 30 drivers were tested despite years of documented truck congestion and accidents in Apapa. Three positive alcohol cases in that small sample suggest the problem is present, but the scale of testing does not match the known volume of daily truck traffic. Nigerian truck drivers operating in the port face intense work conditions with minimal rest areas or welfare support, making random checks without systemic reforms a performative fix. If safety is truly a priority, then isolated tests cannot substitute for comprehensive oversight and improved working conditions.
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