By Uzor Odigbo
The proposed nationwide protest scheduled for August 1st, 2024 has forced the Ports Authority Police (Western) Command to deploy personnels towards securing lives and properties at the nation’s seaports.
Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports, CP Olanrewaju Olawale Ishola stated in clear terms that while the Command recognizes the constitutional right of peaceful assembly, noting that it will however not hesitate to strictly enforce the right of free passage on all ports’ corridor to ensure continuous economic activities in and around the nation’s seaports.
CP Ishola warned against actions capable of hampering port operations pointing out that all human and operational assets have been strategically and adequately deployed in and around the existing ports under the western command.
He also assured of its commitment to continuous engagement with maritime stakeholders, unions, and the business community while leveraging actionable intelligence and synergizing with sister security agencies to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
According to a statement on Monday, he further, the command will not tolerate any untoward action from any group of individuals capable of degenerating into an imbroglio thereby hampering ports operations.
The Commissioner of Police added that:”All human and operational assets have been strategically and adequately deployed in and around the Apapa Port, Tin can Island Port, Lekki Deep-Sea Port, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (phase 1&2), Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Oil logistics and Offshore support Terminals, Oil Tanker Terminals, Private and Government owned Jetties, Bonded Ware Houses, Transit Trailer Parks, Niger-Dock integrated port and free zone on the snake island and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos, which constitutes the Areas of Responsibility of the Western Ports Police Command.
“The Command therefore uses this medium to warn miscreants planning to take advantage of the protest to unleash mayhem to steer clear of Ports facilities as any form of incursion through the waterways, forceful entrance into the Port complexes, or road blockage by individuals or groups will be met with fierce resistance according to the law