Checks by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that Nigerian ports experienced significant property losses and damages amounting to over ₦141 million in the first half of 2024.
This is even as we gathered that a total of 103 suspects were arrested in the same period
This is according to figure from a report by the Port Authority Police Command, Western Zone, led by Commissioner of Police Olanrewaju Olawale Ishola.
The report, presented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, DCP Ibrahim Abdul, during the recent Nigeria Port Consultative Council’s (NPCC) second quarterly meeting, paints a concerning picture of security at the ports.
The security situation within the ports from January to June was described as relatively stable due to various crime prevention measures implemented by the command. These included constant raids on criminal hideouts, vehicular and foot patrols, and intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering. Despite these efforts, the period saw a total of 57 cases recorded, leading to the arrest of 103 suspects.
Among the divisions, the breakdown of reported cases is as follows: Ports CIID Apapa (6 cases), Area Command, Western Ports Apapa (5 cases), Apapa Division (9 cases), Phase I Division (3 cases), Phase II Division (3 cases), Tin-Can Division (10 cases), Roro Division (15 cases), Monitoring Unit (2 cases), Lilypond Division (2 cases), with Niger Dock and Ikorodu Divisions reporting no cases.
According to the Police, out of the 57 cases, 26 were charged to court, 27 remain under investigation, and 3 have been closed.
The arrests were distributed across the divisions, with Ports CIID Apapa accounting for the highest number of arrests at 42. Other notable figures include Apapa Division with 16 arrests and Roro Division with 14 arrests.
The report also highlighted the types of cases reported: 6 cases of assault, 2 cases of misdemeanor, 6 cases of stowaway, and 18 cases of theft. Theft alone accounted for a property loss of ₦102,885,198, with only ₦10,012,500 recovered.
In total, the value of property stolen, lost, or damaged was a staggering ₦141,505,198, while recovered property was valued at ₦16,612,500.
The DCP noted despite the diligent efforts of the Port Authority Police Command, these figures underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring the security of property within Nigeria’s ports.
He added that the substantial losses call for continued vigilance and enhanced security measures to protect valuable assets and maintain order within the ports.
