PRESS RELEASE
NPA RAISES THE ALARM ON INCREASING EXTORTION ALONG THE PORT ACCESS ROAD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has raised the alarm on increasing extortion along the
access roads of the Lagos and Tin Can Island Port Complexes. This is coming on the heels
of the clearance operations the Authority undertook on 16th to 18th July to rid the port corridor
of shanties and illegal erections which harbor the criminal elements who perpetrate
these acts of extortion.
On the eve of the port corridor clearance operations carried out in collaboration with
Lagos State Government earlier this month, the Managing Director /CEO NPA
Mohammed Bello Koko had lamented that “these acts of extortion and allied illegalities
are injurious to trade facilitation, which is our core function and we cannot allow these
nefarious characters make nonsense of the gateways to the national economy which
the ports constitute”. Speaking further, Bello Koko said “we had in the past visited punitive measures on
our staff who were complicit in such unethical practices, and I want to reiterate that once
we are confronted with evidence of any of our staff involved in these acts of sabotage, we
would sanction them in line with the public service rules and our conditions of service
which has zero tolerance for such malfeasance”.
Koko had whilst receiving the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idowu
Owohunwa earlier this month at the NPA Headquarters enlisted the support of the
police in tackling the extortion menace. Bello Koko had specifically cited that “the
jurisdictional rule that restricts the powers of the Port Authority Police Command
(PAPC) to the Port premises, is the more reason why we are calling for increased
synergy between PAPC and officers of the Lagos State Police Command”.
The NPA MD/CEO had earlier met with the leadership at various levels of the Nigerian
Army, the Navy, the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority (LASTMA) stressing on the pressing need to collectively nip the
menace of extortion in the bud.
The Nigerian Ports Authority under Koko had completed the perimeter fencing of the
Tincan Island Port to curb unauthorized access to the port premises. However, the
sanity achieved by this measure is localized within the Port, whilst majority of these
illegalities happen along the port access road which is not within the NPA’s purview.
It will be recalled that the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) had in
March, 2023 published a video footage showing the assault these extortionists visit on
trucks inbound and outbound the port corridor.
The Authority’s fact finding has identified flash points of extortion ranging from 500 Naira
to as high as 5,000 Naira and the mode of perpetration.
The Authority solicits the collaboration of sister government agencies operating along
the port corridor to sustainably tackle this menace that is impeding ease of doing
business around our ports.
Signed
Management