Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, has embarked on a 3-day clean-up and sensitisation operation at the Lagos Port corridors.
The collaboration between NPA and other relevant agencies, including LASG, was recently sealed to help ease congestion at the port corridors.
Speaking via a press statement, NPA revealed that the exercise themed “NPA security clearance operations 2025” would get rid of all kinds of security threats and environmental hazards troubling Nigerian ports.
According to the Nigerian Ports Authority, the ultimate goal is to capture criminal elements, miscreants and hoodlums, while removing shanties, kiosks, and containers that cause traffic and pose a threat to the safety of personnel, cargo, and vessels.
It confirmed that the initiative is in alignment with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code measures developed by the International Maritime Organisation to guarantee the safety and security of ports all over the world.
“It aims to tackle the issues hindering smooth operations at the ports and pave the way for greater port efficiency.
The scope of this extensive clean-up operation covers all entry approaches to the Tincan Island Complex, Lagos Port Complex, Kirikiri Lighter Terminals I & II, and the port environs,” it read.
Speaking during the flag-off of the exercise, the Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, insisted that the ports’ access roads and environs are international corridors.
Maintaining that the ports are the gateway to the national economy, he disclosed that NPA has a responsibility to partner with relevant agencies to ensure that sanity always prevails.
“The operations will not only improve the safety and security of the ports but also contribute to the economic growth of the nation.
The congestion and delays caused by these issues have been a major hindrance to the efficient functioning of ports, affecting trade facilitation and ultimately, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
This is a crucial step in gathering support and cooperation from all stakeholders, including port users, traders, and residents in the surrounding areas.
