Police raids Tin Can Port
• Arrests 64 miscreants
Commissioner of the Port Authority Police Command, Mrs. Sherifat Disu-Olajoku, who disclosed this yesterday when she paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ENL Consortium, Princess (Dr.) Vicky Haastrup, said the 64 arrested persons have been handed over to a Police Task Force in Alausa, Ikeja for further investigation and prosecution.
Olajoku, who expressed displeasure at the high human and vehicular traffic at the ports in Lagos, said that the exercise would be a continuous one.
“When I assumed duties a few weeks ago, I observed that people just wake up and head for the port even when they have no business being there. They loiter around the port premises and constitute security risks to the system.
We will no longer tolerate such acts. We will carry out these raids from time to time and it will be a regular exercise until we rid the port premises of undesirable elements”, the Port Police boss stated.
While warning criminals to stay away from the port premises, she said high priority will also be placed on traffic control to ensure smooth flow of traffic in and around the port area. She said traffic congestion in and around the ports usually caused by indiscriminate parking of trucks are not in the best interest of the Nigerian economy.
Olajoku solicited an improved level of cooperation between the Port Police and stakeholders in the maritime industry especially the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) which Haastrup heads as Chairman.
“Security should concern everybody and that is why we are going round to sensitise stakeholders to partner with us and rally round us to ensure enhanced security. For the criminals, I will do everything within my power to get rid of them and their nefarious activities because I am not a friend to criminals or lawless people”, she said.
She disclosed that plans are on to revive the Port Police Bomb Disposal and Canine units.
On her own part, Princess (Dr.) Vicky Haastrup commended the Inspector General of Police for appointing a woman as the Commissioner of the Port Authority Police Command saying the appointment was long overdue.
She also commended Olajoku for visiting various formations and interest groups in the maritime industry to create synergy with the Port Authority Police Command.
“You have started your assignment well. We women have a way of getting things done and getting them done properly. We are natural leaders and that is why I am confident that you will do very well in this assignment. I assure you of my cooperation both as the CEO of ENL Consortium and as the Chairman of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria. We have always supported the Police in the past and with you as the Commissioner, I assure you that we will continue to do more”, Haastrup stated.
Haastrup said that the importance of the nation’s seaports to the national economy cannot be overemphasized hence the need to ensure round-the-clock maintenance of security of lives and property at the port.
The Port Authority Commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Area Commander of Lagos Ports, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Apapa Port, Chief Superintendent (CSP) Hope Okafor.
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