NPA Repairs Two Patrol Boats For Marine Police

From Left: Executive Director, Marine and Operation, Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA); Engineer David Omonibeke, Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi
 and AIG Maritime, Nigeria Police Force; Mrs Helen Adeyemi during a working visit
 by AIG Maritime to NPA headquarters in Lagos  yesterday.

...Laments shortage of manpower at ports
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Western Ports says it  has repaired two patrol boats  for the use of Police in the Western ports operational zone to secure the waterfronts even as it lamented that there the nation’s ports are presently under policed.

General Manager, Western Ports of the NPA; Engineer Adeyinka Adetunji Odunsi made this known yesterday during  a courtesy visit by the Police Assistant Inspector General  (AIG) in charge of Maritime;  Mrs. Helen Adeyemi and top officials of the Police force in Lagos.

According to Odunsi, the manpower that is available to the Police at ports has been over stretched and that there is need for more personnel at the western ports. The Western ports comprise of all the ports and facilities in Lagos state.

Speaking further, the general manager noted that there has been a drastic reduction of traffic along the ports’ access roads.

He also confirmed that two patrol boats belonging to the marine police has been repaired by the NPA, even as he urged the Police to monitor the waterways effectively in order to secure persons and goods on  the waterways.

"We hope that with the patrol boats that have been fixed, the police will measure up to patrol our waters effectively", Odunsi appealed.

He lauded effort of the commissioner police in charge of western ports for the innovation of addressing traffic gridlock along the port access road, he also called on the western port commissioner to partner with Lagos state Commissioner of Police on issues bothering on traffic gridlock in Apapa and its environs.

Odunsi also advised the police official to monitor the gridlocks at the two major roundabouts inward the Lagos Ports.

Responding to the requests, AIG, Maritime, Nigeria Police Force; Mrs Helen Adeyemi assured the NPA that more officers will posted to the western ports.

She also assured that the port police will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that traffic gridlock in Apapa becomes a thing of the past.

Adeyemi noted that "the police are sending more officers to me and those men will be posted to ports", she added.

She urged the officials of the Western ports to report challenges on port security, adding that competent officers are on ground to address port security complaints.

The AIG maritime said that her position is to supervise and monitor the ports and marine police command with two commissioners under her.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/npa-repairs-two-patrol-boats-marine-police