NPA, Nigerian Police, Lagos State Govt partner to clear port corridor
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Maritime Police Command, Lagos State Government and other maritime stakeholders have established a joint task force to tackle traffic congestion around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.
The decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday in Lagos.
The task force is also mandated to curb extortion and related criminal activities along the port access roads, while ensuring improved security and order within the corridors.
It will further eliminate illegal checkpoints, shanties and indiscriminate truck parking that have contributed to persistent gridlock in the area.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the collaboration was aimed at finding lasting solutions to operational challenges affecting free movement of vehicles around the ports.
Dantsoho said stakeholders identified overlapping jurisdiction among security agencies and truck operators as a major factor affecting efficiency in the port corridors.
He explained that discussions focused on strengthening coordination among the Maritime Police Command, Lagos State Police Command and other security agencies.
“What is established in port operations is that there is a police command for the port system and the Lagos State Police Command. So there are overlaps in responsibilities,” he said.
According to him, stakeholders agreed to improve collaboration to ensure smoother operations without extortion, delays or disruptions to importers, exporters and other port users.
Dantsoho noted that security agencies at the meeting, including the Maritime Police and Lagos State Police Command, clarified that no institution authorises roadblocks or illegal checkpoints.
He described the clarification as a positive outcome of the engagement among stakeholders operating within the port environment.
He said all relevant stakeholders, including the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, freight forwarders and government agencies, are part of the coordinated effort.
Dantsoho added that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police had also pledged commitment to improving operational standards in line with global best practices.
He said Nigerian ports had recently been recognised by the World Bank as among the most improved globally, attributing the achievement to ongoing reforms by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola.
The NPA boss expressed optimism that the strengthened collaboration would enhance efficiency, improve trade facilitation and ensure smoother port operations nationwide. (NAN)
