For the umpteenth time, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA have said they are determined to put an end to the intractable traffic gridlock on the access roads leading to the country’s two busiest ports in Apapa.
Stakeholders in the maritime industry have in time blamed officials of NPA, the Lagos State agency deployed to collaborate with others in addressing the perennial traffic jam, the police among others for sabotaging efforts to improve the situation.
However, at a meeting between the Acting Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Muhammed Bello-Koko the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the duo agreed to adopt stronger measures to curb corrupt practices and alleged extortion of truck drivers by traffic and security operatives along the Lagos Ports corridor.
The new NPA helmsman harped on the need to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws along the Apapa and Tin Can Ports roads.
Bello-Koko stated that the NPA has been inundated with complaints of extortions from truckers, especially by security operatives, including the Military, the Police and NPA Security, demanding money from drivers before accessing the Ports.
He described the ugly practice as a major disincentive to the smooth implementation of the truck call-up system.
Bello-Koko lamented that it has been alleged that no less than thirty “toll-points” have sprung up around the Apapa and Tin Can Port, where bribes are being collected before trucks are allowed into the Port.
Speaking with journalists after the 3 hour closed door meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Bello-Koko said “one of the complaints of the truckers has to do with extortion by security operatives, the Army, the Police, the Nigerian Navy and even NPA Security staff. This is one of the areas we require the intervention of the government, in this case the Lagos State Government because we have Police Officers deployed from the State Command who are allegedly involved in this.
