Togo Port: Lomé Enhances Security Checks to Combat Cargo Theft

The Port of Lomé has tightened controls at the entrances and exits of Moles 1 and 2 since Monday, September 28, 2026. The measures apply to people, vehicles and other wheeled equipment using the conventional quays. According to an information notice dated September 22, vehicles and wheeled equipment are now subject to mandatory searches, while people undergo security checks. The inspections are carried out both on entry to and exit from the two moles. Anyone who refuses to comply is denied access to the quays. Port of Lomé management said the measures are aimed at strengthening security at the conventional quays and curbing cargo theft. The notice does not provide figures on the scale of the thefts or any resulting losses. Tighter controls amid rising traffic The measures come as container traffic at the Port of Lomé continues to grow. According to the 2026 edition of the Lloyd’s List ranking, the port handled 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up 16% from 2.06 million a year earlier. It ranked 91st worldwide and retained its position as the leading container port in sub-Saharan Africa. The new rules mean additional security checks for people and vehicles entering and leaving Moles 1 and 2, adding another layer of control at a port handling growing volume of cargo. Ayi Renaud Dossavi