Yuletide: We are poised for 24 hours port security – CP Olanrewaju Ishola.
Yuletide: We are poised for 24 hours port security - CP Olanrewaju Ishola.
Segun Oladipupo
The Port Authority Police, Western Port Command has reiterated its resolve to work round the clock to nip illegal boarding of ships in the ports in the bud.
The Commissioner of Police, PAP, CP Olanrewaju Ishola told journalists on Friday that the he has mandated his officers and men to remain in ground during the yuletide period to man the waterways to avoid people taking advantage of the season to perpetrate illegalities.
To ensure this, the CP who is barely four weeks on the seat, said he had told terminal operators to inform the command when a ship berths and when it is about to take off to ensure that officers are on ground for a thorough check on the ship to avoid illegal migration.
According to him, the command has deployed police officers at the jetties with dogs to ensure illegal entry and exit are curtailed.
On the issue of unregistered boats playing the waterways, he pointed out that he would liaise with Lagos State Ministry of Transportation to ensure that all boats playing waterways are registered
He added that the command would also ensure that boats that have no business on the waterways are shut out of the waters.
On the traffic situation in Papa, the Commissioner said he gave his officers marching order to wrest the situation which according to him, has yielded tremendous result
His words, “When I assumed duty here, my first priority is what are the risk areas to me which I identified. The port itself is the gateway to the economy which means that the stakes are very high. So, I cannot sit down here as Commissioner of Police and allow illegalities to happen in the ports.
“So, I called my police officers together and told them to be up and doing. The Marine police, whether they are at ship berthing or loading or going.
“Secondly, traffic used to be a thing over concern here but you can see that in your way in today, it is like you are walking to a new place order than the port
“So, traffic situation has been handled and taken care of. All the grey areas that were hitherto witnessed, I told my DPOs to up their games if they still want to remain in their positions as DPOs.
“This command is not about the port alone, we have a lot of boat operators within and outside the place. I told my DPOs that they must invite the leaders of boat operators to the command for a meeting because I want to know how somebody can be smuggled through the waterways to enter the ship without anyone knowing.
“At all the jetties, I put policemen there to man them on red alert. I told them to deploy dogs to all the jetties so as to alert us if anything like that happens.
“We are also looking at the authorization of those allowed into the ship. Why would somebody enter a ship illegally without working there?
“About four days ago, 14 stowaways were arrested and as at yesterday, they were taken to court and were sentenced even though to 14 days community service according to the wisdom of the court
“That is the extent we are going to defend it that anybody who is not authorized to enter a ship does not enter it especially during this yuletide period, no one goes anywhere, we are going to remain here to police the waterways to make sure that the country runs the way it should run.
“Port runs 24 hours and since we are the security keepers, we must be here 24 hours as well.
“I am going to liaise with the Ministry of Transportation because I know Lagos State has a virile ministry manning the waterways. Since it is their baby, I am going to liaise with them to make sure that all boats are registered and the ones that have no business being in the waterways should not be there.
“Again, while trying to police the waterways, we will not like to disturb genuine people using the waterways that is why we are gathering much intelligence on who should be there and who should not be there
“I have told all the terminal operators that when ships are berthing, discharging, loading or leaving, they should let us know so that we can beef us security to prevent illegal entry into the ships. By and large, we are doing fine,” he enthused.
