NPA, Police, Lagos Govt Partner to Clear Port Corridor

By Aminat Damilola, Assistant Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Maritime Police Command, Lagos State Government and other stakeholders in the maritime industry have set up a Task Forces that will clear traffic congestion, extortion and other related crimes along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.

The collaboration aims to restore order by eliminating illegal checkpoints, shanties, and indiscriminate truck parking along the port access road.

Heads of government agencies at the forum in Lagos, TODAY.

Addressing reporters in Lagos TODAY, after the joint meeting held by the NPA, security agencies, Lagos State government and relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry, the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho said, they have agreed to find lasting solutions to peculiar problems along the port corridor in Apapa and Tin-Can Island port.

” Now we have established that there are issues around a station along the corridor that is outside the port. .The second issue is the issue of overlapping jurisdiction.

“In our system, what is established is that there is a police command for the port system, Maritime Police, and then there is also the Lagos State Police Command. So in some instances, you know, there are clashes, overlaps. So that is number two.

“Then number three, we looked at how to address all these issues. We want the collaboration to be smoother so that we can have a better operational corridor without the issue of extortion and delays that are being experienced by importers and exporters as well as other port users.

“So” we have achieved a great lot of success in our discussions. We have to the extent that the AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that she and the police do not send anybody to go and form roadblocks or checkpoints on the corridor.”

“Also, the Lagos Police Command said the same thing, which is a very pleasing information that we received from them, That has been what a lot of stakeholders were talking about. Therefore, if that is resolved, then, we will see a better corridor functionality.

“Also, on the issue of collaboration to ensure more efficiency, like I said, all other agencies who are here present, for example, AMATO, ANCLA, Freight Forwarders Association like ANLCLA, NAGAFF, and then government agencies who are also part of the system, like NPA itself, DSS and the police, we have already committed ourselves to ensuring that we create a very sweet and more environmentally acceptable standard so that the emphasis will be that we are going to function and then function better in our practices so that we can do better than our neighboring countries.

“We have been emphasising that we must do as much as we can because we are now the leading ports in West and Central Africa, and even in Africa and in the world.

“Thank God, like I said, our port system has recently been confirmed as one of the most improved in the world by the World Bank, which is to a great extent to the credit of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinunu and the leadership and supervision of our Minister Dr Adegboyega Oyetola.

Dantsoho gave kudos to all the stakeholders who participated in the discussion and the collaboration.