In order to improve trade facilitation and the security and safety of port users in the state, the Federal Government has started to demolish shanties and extortion points leading to the Lagos ports through the Nigerian Ports Authority in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
The operation, which started on Sunday, would be carried out by personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, the NPA’s security division, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, according to a statement from the authority.
The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spoke to journalists about the situation and emphasized that the port areas should maintain their worldwide reputation and be secure.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Head of Operations for the Lagos State Special Traffic Management Committee, Hassan Adekoya, declared, “The Lagos State administration is committed to raising the level of the ports in Lagos and ensuring all obstacles to trade facilitation are removed.
“I am supporting this NPA initiative because the Lagos ports are a mirror of the state, and we must do everything in our ability to assist the NPA’s management in maintaining a safe and secure environment.
“We will continue to clear them until they understand that the government is making an effort to sanitize the ports in Lagos,” said the spokesperson.
The week-long operation, according to him, will begin at the Apapa Port Complex and go down to Lilypond, then within Apapa to the first and second gates of Tin-Can, and finally Kirikiri Lighter Terminals 1 and 2.
