NPA Explains Tin Can Port Crisis
The General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Michael Kayode Ajayi has reacted to the official disagreement between an NPA security man and a trailer driver which occurred last week.
According to the GM, the Security report at his disposal revealed that the driver of a trailer with registration number XA580TUN drove against traffic while driving an empty container into the Tin-Can Port.
He said the security man attempted to stop him but the driver refused, until he was forced to stop; but due to the number of trailers entering and leaving the port, the traffic disruption was high. As the security man wanted to chain the trailer, the other drivers wanted to prevent the offender from being arrested.
In the course of dragging and struggling with the security man, the driver was injured by the chain and was rushed to the NPA clinic for treatment where he was treated and discharged immediately on Thursday.
Chief Ajayi stated that on Friday the drivers re-grouped and were dispersed by the Ports Police, but not before burning down three security posts.
Two people were arrested and one who was identified as an agent was later released but the other one, who was identified as a vulcanizer and who was armed with a chain, would soon be charged to court. Ajayi added that there were no casualties and no death was recorded.
He said the present administration of NPA has zero tolerance as regards extortion, fraud or corruption, and that NPA staff are well paid to forestall the temptation of extortion, fraud or any corrupt act.
He challenged anyone to come up with list of names of those extorting money from people at the Ports and see if punitive measures would not be taken against such offenders.
The Port Police Commissioner, Hilary Opara, also said no casualties were recorded except the driver. He said two people were arrested and peace has since returned at the port.
Also reacting, the officer of the Trailer Drivers Association, Unit Chairman, Road Transport, Comrade Femi Gbeleyi, said though there was a misunderstanding between ex-NPA security staff and a driver, everything has been settled.
—Moses Falobi
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