By Moses Ebosele, ebosele@hotmail.com —
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has revealed plans to prosecute hoodlums behind the attack on its Corporate Headquarters, located at 26/28 Marina Road and the Tincan Island Port, Lagos State.
About 300 hoodlums masquerading as #EndSARS protesters had attacked, stole and vandalised several properties at the Corporate Headquarters of NPA and Tincan Island Seaport on Wednesday, October 21st and Tuesday October 20th,2020 respectively.
Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman who was a guest of Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise, on Friday morning explained that seven suspects are in custody.
Explaining further, Bala Usman disclosed that the CCTV footage has been handed over to the Federal and Lagos State Governments to facilitate prosecution of those behind the crime.
Bala Usman also ruled out the involvement of NPA staff in the attack: “The CCTV footage did not indicates involvement of staff“
According to the NPA Managing Director, the attack lasted for two hours before it was brought under control by the arrival of personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
Giving details account of the attack, the NPA boss said a policeman attached to TinCan Island Port, who sustained injuries died in the Hospital some days after the attack.
The Managing Director reiterated that “Twenty-seven (27) vehicles, including cars, utility vehicles, pick up vans and staff buses were set on fire, while Thirty-three (33) other vehicles, twenty-two of which belong to members of staff were vandalised“.
Bala Usman explained that “All assets of the Authority are comprehensively insured, and insurers are currently undergoing an assessment of the damages“.
Bala Usman, who spoke on sundry issues, also emphasised the need for intermodal transport system as part of measures to ensure prompt clerance of goods from the Seaports.
According to the NPA boss, the e-call up system is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2021 in partnership with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders.
Briefing Journalists, recently, Bala Usman commended the gallantry of all security personnel and “our firemen whose intervention restored normalcy.
“We also appreciate the concerns of all stakeholders and citizens who have reached out with kind words of support and encouragement.
“All stakeholders and the general public are hereby assured that the situation has not affected operations of the Authority in anyway as we have continued to render our services unhindered“
