Grimaldi , PTML Describe Host Communities As Hostile , Threat To Port Operations

Grimaldi Shipping , Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited, (PTML) have described  waterfront communitiy at Tin Can Island Port as hostile and threat to the progress of port operations.

The multinationals  said constant unleashing of mayhem on vessels at berth by some of the community youths have  sent negative signals to port operations, calling on the marine police and other security agencies on the need  to police the waterfront effectively and frequently.

The concessionaire and shipping line agency, decried that the communities as being hostile, saying , most the youths loiter around the facilities trying to break into them to cart away items in the terminal and attack the vessels.

 

 

The investors noted lamented that youths front this communitiy, especially, Ogogoro village has forcefully gain entrance into terminals to cart away valuables.

 

Giving a vivid background on the development in Lagos last week at a meeting with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Maritime, AIG Ibrahim Kaoje during his visit to the Western Port Police command headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, Oscar Alu, Group Security Manager of PTML, added that the recalcitrant youths always have their ways because of porous or unavailable external security arrangements.

 

 

While commending the command for the efforts so far, he called on the police hierarchy to reawaken its synergy with other security operatives and stakeholders to nip the malady in the bud.

 

 

Alu said  as a result of the menace, the terminal operator has said that the facility in the axis are sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

 

 

He however warned that if the security arrangement for the area continued to remain complacent, the outcome might be worse than the outcome of the END-SARS protests.

 

 

He said, “The major challenge is that the in this port, we have a lot of terminals, PTML, Grimaldi and others.

 

 

“We see hundreds of youths loitering round the facility doing everything possible to break into your terminal no matter what you have done to cater for internal security but the external security is still vulnerable 100 percent.

 

“In Tincan Island port, we are sitting on keg of gunpowder. What this means is that everybody should wake up.

 

 

“I think synergy has to be reawaken for all hands to be on deck failure which can lead to something worse than the END-SARS protest.

 

 

“To the.other side which falls on the government agencies, there is serious challenge and the challenge is that once the vessel is at berth, you really can’t see what is on the other side,  the harbour side of the vessel and we have Ogogoro village, this is a hostile community with a whole lot of people.

 

 

“The issue of stoaways started from this community and most times, we gave attacks on vessels, thieves robbing vessels, it all started from this community yet the waterways is not properly monitored.

 

 

“I think we still need the presence of marine police to monitor the waterways and monitor the berths because we don’t have their presence at the berths right now.

 

 

“I appreciate the good jobs done so far, we commend your command but you need to add.more fuel to your vehicle,” he admonished.

 

Responding, the AIG Maritime assured the terminal operators and other stakeholders that the Marine unit will step up patrol along the waterways, saying some new boats are due for commissioning.

 

He said the Marine unit will boost it operations along the waterfront adding the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA had donated some watercrafts equipment for the police.

By Roland Ekama