NPA, Police, Stakeholders Move To End Extortion, Jurisdictional Clashes Along Apapa Port Corridor
NPA, Police, Stakeholders Move To End Extortion, Jurisdictional Clashes Along Apapa Port Corridor
By Frank Odinukaeze
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Tuesday convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting involving the Nigerian Police Force, other security agencies, freight forwarders, truck owners and industry operators aimed at finding lasting solutions to extortion, illegal checkpoints and overlapping security operations along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.
The meeting, held at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos, was chaired by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Dantsoho said discussions focused on three major issues affecting port operations: illegal blockades and checkpoints outside the ports, jurisdictional overlaps among security agencies, and the need for improved collaboration to enhance efficiency and trade facilitation.
According to him, the identified problem areas stretch from Tin Can Island Port towards Berger and Mile 2, where importers, exporters and truck operators have long complained of delays and extortion.
“We are trying to find lasting solutions to peculiar problems along the port corridor. We have achieved a great deal of success from our discussions and the outcomes are of high quality,” Dantsoho said.
He disclosed that both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Maritime Command and the Lagos State Police Command denied deploying personnel to establish roadblocks or checkpoints along the corridor, a development he described as encouraging.
Dantsoho said stakeholders, including the Department of State Services (DSS), truck owners, freight forwarding associations and government agencies, had committed themselves to strengthening collaboration to ensure smoother cargo evacuation and improved operational efficiency.
He added that Nigeria must continue to improve its port system to maintain its position as one of the most improved ports globally, attributing recent achievements to the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola.
Speaking on behalf of the Maritime Police Command, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime Police,AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, announced plans to establish a joint task force comprising the Lagos State Government, NPA and relevant stakeholders to coordinate operations around the ports.
She assured stakeholders that any officer claiming to represent Zone 2 or the Maritime Police while engaging in extortion or mounting illegal checkpoints should be reported for disciplinary action.
“We have agreed to work collaboratively. If you see any police officer on the road claiming to have come from Zone 2 or Maritime Police, that person is lying and can be brought to book,” the AIG said.
She also identified Mr. Biggs and Getty Salad areas as recognized operational points previously agreed upon during efforts to sanitize the port environment.
Representing the Lagos State Government, officials from the Ministry of Transportation reaffirmed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to efficient transportation and traffic management, describing the port corridor as critical to the economy of both Lagos State and Nigeria.
The ministry disclosed that stakeholders had agreed to establish a joint monitoring, enforcement and reporting mechanism to ensure seamless port operations and improve ease of doing business.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, representing AIG Zone 2,,
AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh.stated that Zone 2 had no operational responsibility within the port corridor and had not posted any officers to any point within the ports.
“As the officer responsible for postings, I can confirm that Zone 2 has never posted any officer to any point at the Port Authority,” he said.
National Secretary-General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mohammed Sani Bala, welcomed the outcome of the meeting, noting that security agencies had publicly acknowledged that they did not authorize the extortion allegedly being carried out by persons operating checkpoints along the corridor.
He expressed optimism that the proposed committee, which will include government agencies, freight forwarders and trucking associations, would address extortion and facilitate smooth cargo evacuation.
Responding to concerns over the activities of touts and illegal operators who harass truck drivers, officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation said such matters transcend transportation management and require collective security efforts.
The ministry stated that offenders apprehended by authorities are regularly arrested and prosecuted.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting expressed confidence that the resolutions reached marked the beginning of a new era in port operations and pledged their support for efforts aimed at eliminating extortion and improving efficiency along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors.
They also sought clarification on the jurisdiction of the proposed committee, particularly regarding areas extending to Mile 2 and beyond. In response, stakeholders were informed that the committee’s terms of reference would be clearly defined by the NPA management when it commences operations.
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