Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, has said the NPA is poised to deepen partnership with Lagos State Government, in a bid to promote a more business-friendly in ports in the state.
Speaking while he paid a courtesy and appreciation visit on the Governor of the state; Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu on Tuesday, Bello Koko acknowledged that the traffic sanity being witnessed in Apapa is as a result of the partnership with the state government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, General Manager , Corporate and strategic communications at the NPA, the managing director said that the partnership 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 also solicited the support of Lagos government in providing adequate lighting of the Ports access roads. “We believe that illumination will minimize and ultimately eliminate opportunistic crimes that take advantage of dark spots” the Managing Director explained.
Apart from road illumination, Bello Koko sought the urgent intervention in carrying out palliative works around Sunrise and Coconut bus stops on the approach to Tin Can port, as well to engage with the construction firm handling the project on the need to fast track work on the road.
In addition, he notified the Governor of the need to undertake another clearance operation as a follow-up to the one earlier carried out in 2021 with the backing of the state government. He stressed that the repeat clearance is necessary to sustain the gains of the initial exercise and forestall a relapse.
Hinting at the NPA’s preparedness for the take-off of the Lekki Deep Seaport in September, the Managing Director requested Lagos State Government to fast track the construction of Lekki Port access road as it constitutes a critical success factor for smooth take-off of the nation’s first Deep Seaport.
Bello Koko also used the visit to formally present the new initiatives jointly churned out by the NPA/LASG team on the Joint Apapa Traffic Control, ahead of the signing of an MOU that seeks to address the menace of multiplicity of checkpoints and attendant extortion.
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In his response, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who commended the new NPA Managing Director for the demonstrated capacity whilst in acting capacity said Lagos is happy to be home to the two existing ports and is investing heavily in the construction of the Ports access road for the Lekki Port ahead of take-off towards the end of the year.
The Governor expressed delight at the prospect of the Lekki Port situated at 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.
Speaking further, the Governor, commended the electronic call-up system (eto) and assured the Managing Director of the unalloyed support of LASG in driving all efforts aimed at making the Ports more efficient.
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