Moving from Akowonjo in Alimosho to Tin Can Island Port in Apapa is a major cross-city journey. It takes you from the residential suburbs of mainland Lagos deep into the heart of the industrial and maritime zone. Because of the heavy operations around the ports, this route is highly prone to severe gridlock caused by container trucks and tankers. Commuters must plan carefully around peak traffic hours, sudden road bottlenecks, and seasonal weather patterns to ensure a safe and predictable trip.
Hotspots
Best Time to Travel
To beat the worst of the morning rush, it is best to leave Akowonjo between 5:30 AM and 6:15 AM. For off-peak daytime travel, the most stable window is between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM before the evening rush hour begins.
Chance to get bus/car
Normal flow
Hold-up Delay Today
No hold-up
Time you will wait at park
-14 to -9 mins wait
Fare Price Level
Normal Fares
How Road Be Now
Traffic is easing up as the day winds down.
Hold-up delay
+14 mins delay
* Based on regular route reports
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Board a local commercial bus (Danfo) or a tricycle (Keke) from your specific bus stop in Akowonjo (such as Vulcanizer, Roundabout, or Jimoh) heading down to Iyana Ipaja Bus Stop.
From Iyana Ipaja, walk over to the main garage or expressway bus stop and board a large yellow bus (Danfo) or a red BRT bus going directly to Oshodi Interchange.
At Oshodi, navigate to the Apapa platform or loading park and enter a Danfo heading down to Mile 2 Bus Stop along the expressway.
At Mile 2, move over to the down-bridge park and board the final Danfo heading straight towards Apapa, making sure to tell the conductor you are dropping off at Tin Can First Gate or Second Gate.
Always enter a bus with 'change' (smaller denominations of Naira notes) to avoid loud arguments with conductors who do not have balance.
Keep your smartphones, wallets, and valuable items inside your bag, and hold your bag tightly to your chest when navigating through crowded spaces at Oshodi and Mile 2.
Listen carefully to the conductor when boarding at Mile 2 to ensure the bus is taking the service lane, as trucks often block the main express lanes entirely.
If the road from Mile 2 to Tin Can is completely locked by trucks, look for a registered commercial motorcycle (Okada) at Mile 2 to bypass the gridlock, but ensure you negotiate the price beforehand.
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Safety Rating
Medium - Commuters must stay alert, especially at major transit hubs like Oshodi and Mile 2, and along the long stretches of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway where traffic robberies can happen during heavy gridlock or late at night.
BRT / Rail / Water
There is no direct BRT lane or functional passenger rail service that covers this exact route from Akowonjo straight to Tin Can. However, you can use the standard BRT buses along the Lagos-Abeokuta corridor to reach Oshodi, from where you must connect via regular commercial buses (Danfo) or alternative transport along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
Distance
28.5 km
Duration
2h 15m
Total Cost
₦2,300 - ₦3,500
Status
Verified Route
How Road Be Now
Traffic is easing up as the day winds down.
Hold-up delay
+14 mins delay
* Based on regular route reports
Bypass the Ikeja Under-Bridge corridor from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. Traffic builds rapidly due to commercial buses loading along the main road lanes.
Areas Affected
75% confidence based on 12 commuter reports
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Bypass the Ikeja Under-Bridge corridor from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. Traffic builds rapidly due to commercial buses loading along the main road lanes.
Areas Affected
Akowonjo Road
Due to current transport inflation and volatile fuel prices, you should hold at least ₦7,000 to ₦9,000 for a round trip if you are using commercial buses (Danfo). It is always wise to keep an extra ₦2,000 as emergency funds in case fares spike suddenly during evening rush hour or due to a sudden downpour.
It is not highly recommended. The stretch of road from Mile 2 down to Tin Can can become isolated, dark, and highly insecure late at night, with area boys and traffic robbers targeting commuters amidst stationary trailers. If you must travel late, try to move in a fully loaded commercial bus rather than walking or waiting alone at the bus stops.
Not directly. The Blue Line Rail runs from Mile 2 to Marina (Lagos Island). It does not branch off into the Apapa or Tin Can port axis. However, if you find yourself on Lagos Island, you could use the train to get to Mile 2 quickly, and then take a bus down to Tin Can from there.
The delays are caused by hundreds of heavy-duty container trucks and petroleum tankers waiting to gain access into the Tin Can Island Port and nearby tank farms. They often park on the main expressway and service lanes for days, narrowing the usable road space for regular passenger vehicles to a single, tight lane.