MARITIME POLICE COMMAND BACKS PEBEC-LED CLEAN-UP TO RESTORE ORDER AT LAGOS PORT CORRIDOR

MARITIME POLICE COMMAND BACKS PEBEC-LED CLEAN-UP TO RESTORE ORDER AT LAGOS PORT CORRIDOR
By Prince Benson Davies

The Maritime Police Command has reaffirmed its role in safeguarding Nigeria’s port environment after joining a two-day inter-agency clean-up and enforcement exercise along the Lagos Port corridor on 14th and 15th May 2026. The operation was led under the supervision of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, fsi, mspsp.

The exercise was coordinated by the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahra Mustapha Audu, in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos State Government, and other security and regulatory agencies. It targeted illegal activities and obstructions that have long hampered free movement and trade around Apapa and Tin Can Island Port.

As part of its statutory mandate to ensure safety within the nation’s maritime domain, the Maritime Police Command deployed patrol teams and operational personnel to strategic points across the corridor. Officers focused on dismantling unauthorized checkpoints, removing obstructions, and clamping down on criminal elements including port rats, touts, thugs, and unlicensed operators whose activities disrupt port operations and compromise security.

The operation also addressed unauthorized access to port facilities, reinforcing strict compliance with security and access control measures. The aim was to create a safer, more orderly environment for legitimate trade and port users while reducing opportunities for extortion and congestion along the corridor.

Speaking on the outcome, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat commended the discipline and professionalism displayed by officers and the level of inter-agency cooperation throughout the exercise. She noted that the Command remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen maritime security, facilitate trade, ease congestion, and improve the overall business environment at Nigeria’s ports.

The Command assured stakeholders and the public of its sustained presence and collaboration to protect critical national assets and maintain law and order within the maritime domain. It also called on port users to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information through PEBEC complaint platforms and other official channels to aid ongoing enforcement efforts.