Grimaldi Shipping Line, a RoRo terminal operator, Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) and other stakeholders have expressed concern over the constant attacks on vessels by miscreants in waterfront communities.
The operators lamented the rampant attempts at unleashing mayhem on vessels at berth and forcefully gaining entrance into terminals to steal valuable items, adding that the development was sending negative signals to the maritime community, The Trumpet gathered.
Speaking at a meeting with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Maritime, Ibrahim Kaoje, in Lagos last week, Group Security Manager of PTML Terminal, Oscar Alu, said there was an impending implosion at the port due to absence of security agencies, especially at the jetties.
He said most of the youths from the communities, especially Ogogoro village, loiter around the facilities to forcefully break into them to cart away items in the terminal and attack the vessels.
Alu said the recalcitrant youths always have their way because of the porous nature of the external security arrangements, maintaining that the terminal and shipping lines in the port axis were currently sitting on a keg of gunpowder owing to the challenge.
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While commending the Police Command for the efforts so far, Alu called on the police hierarchy to reactivate its collaboration with other security operatives and stakeholders to nip the crime in the bud.
He, however, warned that if the security arrangement in the area continued to remain complacent, the outcome might be worse than the #ENDSARS protests of October 2020.
“The issue of stowaways started from this community and most times, we get attacks on vessels, thieves robbing vessels, it all started from this community yet the waterways are not properly monitored.
“I think we still need the presence of marine police to monitor the waterways and the berths because we don’t have their presence right now,” he said.
Responding, Kaoje assured the terminal operators and other stakeholders that the marine unit would step up patrol along the waterways, saying some new boats were due for commissioning.
He said the marine unit would boost its operations along the waterfront, adding that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had donated some equipment to the police.
