Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — In a bid to enhance trade facilitation and make the Lagos ports more secure and safe for port users, the federal government through the Nigerian Ports Authority yesterday commenced joint operations to rid the port’s access roads of all illegal activities.
The operation is collectively being undertaken jointly by operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Nigerian Police, the security department of the NPA and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
Speaking to newsmen on the development, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that the ports are supposed to be secured areas and must be treated as such and efforts should be made to uphold its international outlook.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mr. Hassan Adekoya, Head of Operations, Lagos State Special Traffic Management Committee, who said that the State government is committed to uplifting the standard of the ports in Lagos and ensure all encumbrances inimical to trade facilitation are removed.
He said: “I am supporting this initiative because Lagos ports are a reflection of the State, and we must do all within our powers to support the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to keep the clean safe and secured.
“We will keep clearing them until they get the message of government efforts in wanting to sanitize the ports in Lagos.”
“Information has gone ahead before now that the shanties and other illegal structures will be removed from the along the port corridors to keep traders, criminals and unwanted persons around the areas.
According to Adekoya, the operation which started on Sunday (yesterday) will last for seven days.
He added that it started from the Apapa Port, down to Lilypond, back to inward Apapa to Tin-Can first and second gates and Kirikiri Lighter Terminal one and two.
An official of the NPA who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the leadership of the agency initiated the clearance of shanties along the port access roads because the influx unauthorized around the port area was becoming worrisome.
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