The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and relevant security agencies, has launched a three-day full-scale clean-up and sensitisation campaign along the Lagos port corridors.
The exercise, tagged “NPA Security Clearance Operations 2025,” is aimed at resolving critical challenges hindering smooth port operations, while laying the groundwork for improved efficiency and enhanced national economic performance.
The clean-up covers all access routes leading to key port facilities, including Tin Can Island Complex, Lagos Port Complex, Kirikiri Lighter Terminals I & II, and surrounding port environments.
The initiative targets the removal of criminal elements, miscreants, unauthorized structures such as shanties and kiosks, and abandoned equipment and containers. These obstacles not only impede the free flow of traffic but also threaten the safety of port personnel, cargo, and vessels.
Importantly, the operation aligns with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), reinforcing global safety and security standards at Nigerian ports.
Flagging off the exercise, NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, emphasized the strategic importance of the port access roads.
“Port access roads and their environs are international corridors and gateways to the national economy. We have a duty to ensure sanity is restored and maintained through the right partnerships,” Dantsoho said.
Represented by Mr. Anthony Edosomwan, NPA’s General Manager of Security, Dantsoho noted that the operation would not only bolster security and safety at the ports but also stimulate economic growth by reducing delays and inefficiencies that have stifled trade and hindered GDP growth.
Ahead of the operation, NPA’s security division launched a wide-ranging media sensitisation campaign to ensure public awareness and stakeholder cooperation.
“This is a crucial step in garnering support from all stakeholders, including port users, traders, and residents of nearby communities,” Edosomwan added.
Reaffirming NPA’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Dantsoho highlighted the dangers of unchecked pollution and encroachment.
“This clean-up is vital not just for port operations but also for the health and well-being of surrounding communities and the environment at large.”
He described the Security Clearance Operations 2025 as part of a broader initiative to decongest Nigeria’s ports and create a more sustainable and efficient future.
“Management therefore calls on all Nigerians to support this operation for a safer, more secure, and environmentally friendly port environment,” he urged.
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