By Uzor Odigbo
The port town of Apapa in Lagos noted for very slow vehicular traffic was today made passable by various security agencies ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commissioning of Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure.
The President who had earlier administered the flag off ceremony for commercial operation of the Lagos Ibadan rail project also formally declare procured security platforms covering sea and air for use in a joint operation coordinated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
Security assets commissioned includes 2 special mission vessels, 3 special mission helicopters,16 armoured vehicles, 2 special mission aircrafts and 17 interceptor boats.
Others include 4 unmanned aerial vehicles, a C4i which is the command , control and coordination centre for monitoring and special forces trained for the integrated maritime security task.
The president who specially commended the transport. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for owning the project, warned that the commissioned assets must be maintained and put in good use all the time. It would not go like others this time.He commended the transportation ministry and agencies in the maritime sector for delivering the project. Buhari was elated that a project such as this was commissioned during his tenure, a project had already started benefitting the purpose for which it was established.Hon. Thanked the President Buhari for keeping faith with project and other stakeholders for their diligence in reality of the project as he assured that before he leaves office, the project would continue to flourish.
The usual vehicular queues involving containerised trucks and tankers approaching and departing Apapa were absent from the port access roads ahead of the commissioning.