In a renewed resolve to promote the business-friendliness of Lagos ports, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko, has said the NPA is poised to deepen partnership with Lagos State Government.
Speaking while he paid a courtesy and appreciation visit on the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday, Bello Koko said the improved traffic flow being witnessed in Apapa is as a result of the partnership with LASG, which he believes should be deepened in order to extend the success to the Tin Can port axis.
In a bid to promote security in the port corridors, Bello Koko solicited the support of the government in providing adequate lighting of the ports access roads.
“We believe that illumination will minimise and ultimately eliminate opportunistic crimes that take advantage of dark spots,” he said.
Apart from road illumination, Bello Koko sought the urgent intervention of the governor in carrying out palliative works around Sunrise and Coconut road axis, as well to engage with Hi-Tech Construction on the need to fast track work on the road.
In addition, he said there was need to undertake another clearance operation as a follow-up to the one earlier carried out in 2021.
He also said that NPA was ready for the take-off of the Lekki Deep Seaport in September, even as he requested the Lagos State Government to fast track the construction of the Lekki port access road as it constitutes a critical success factor for smooth take-off of the nation’s first deep seaport.
In his response, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed delight at the prospect of the Lekki port situated in the eastern part of Lagos and the upcoming Badagry port situated in the western part in a strategic balance that will assure economic prosperity to all parts of the state which serves as the commercial nerve center of the national economy.
The governor commended NPA for introducing the electronic call-up system for trucks plying the ports in Lagos.
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