The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority Mohammed Bello Koko has again given firm assurances of the Authority’s commitment to collaborate with Stakeholders and the Nation's Security apparatus especially the military High Commands towards the protection of lives and property within Port facilities across the Nation.
The managing Director, according to a release by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mrs. O. Oyinlola made this remark when he received the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Ajunwa at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.
Engr. Koko stated that the Authority has over the years enjoyed cordial working relationship with the Nigerian Army whenever there was need to maintain Law and Order within its corridors. He applauded the swift deployment of soldiers to the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters during the Endsars imbroglio where protesters who destroyed property belonging to the Authority were arrested and prevented from causing loss of lives.
The MD, while thanking the Army Chief for the visit, assured him that the Authority was ready to continue to strengthen the partnership in order to make the Port and the nation safe at all times; He however, expressed his regrets to the Army Chief about the illegal activities said to be going on at the Takwa bay corridor. He recalled that the Takway bay facility belonged to the Authority and had been Gazetted. A part of the facility was given to the military for operational exercises, but was surprised that the land was being used to carry out series of illicit activities such as drug distribution and harboring of hoodlums.
Earlier on, General Ajunwa stated that the Military Authorities were at the NPA as part of military tradition of familiarizing with its neighbors such as the NPA. He reaffirmed that his personnel would assiduously carry out their core responsibility of protecting lives and property having assumed office in the last three months. "I assumed duties three months ago. I felt that as part of our training, we should visit installations in my environment and one of them happens to be the NPA. My men are ready to carry out our responsibilities of protecting lives and property at all times’. On the issue of illegal activities at the Takwa bay.
Ajunwa further stated that the Command was discussing security related matters with various Government agencies by way of being proactive in curbing unforeseen circumstances as the Yuletide period was fast approaching coupled with the forthcoming General elections. The GOC said "We are not expecting any negative scene, but we must plan for unforeseen eventualities". He stated that it was constantly being raided by his men, but would further ensure that his operatives work with the NPA team to come up with a lasting solution to the issue. The GOC who had on his team other senior military officers were also received by the top management team of the NPA.
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