Stakeholder Decries Poor Ports’ Security

The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (NCLA), Prince Olayiwole Shittu has expressed dismay that Nigerian ports lacked the basic security infrastructure to counter any external aggression or terrorism.

Prince Shittu who barred his mind in a chat with newsmen in Lagos  recently said the important of the Nigerian ports to the nation could not  be over emphasised, adding that they played a very strategic role to the development of the economy.

He said because of the movement of goods and services, in our various ports  on a daily  basis, he is worried following  the treat of a sect to bomb some strategic government establishments.

“There is no gain saying that the on-going bombings in the country could be extended to our ports, Besides, if arms and ammunitions  and other notorious explosives could be passing through our ports on a daily basis in the process of shipping goods, then we are at risk”, he said.

According  to him, the Federal government should act immediately  without waiting for an attack before   action is being taken.

The ANCLA  boss, however, expressed worry over the security measures put in place by the federal government agencies and terminal ports operators at the Nigerian ports, and called on them to go back to the  drawing board and get things aright.

“We need to be more security conscious now because of the spate of bombings in the country, by the  notorious Boko Haram sect. Our Ports are not safe. So,  government  must invite stakeholders to a security  meeting to fashion out new security measures for the ports inorder to forestall any external attacks”, the ANCLA boss noted.