Police ban revenue collection, ticket sales on Apapa port roads

The Western Ports Police Command has declared revenue collection and ticket sales along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port access corridors illegal.

The declaration followed a brewing disagreement between the Committee of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations, COMTUA, and the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operators Committee, LASTCOC, over the proposed collection of Lagos State revenue tickets along the port routes.

The Police Command intervened after COMTUA petitioned against what it described as plans to illegally collect revenue tickets on the access roads leading to the ports.

Following the petition, the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, summoned both groups to a peace meeting at the Command Headquarters to resolve the dispute and avert a possible breakdown of law and order along the busy maritime corridors.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Administration, the Area Commander, Tin Can Island, Divisional Police Officers from Apapa, RORO and Tin Can Island, alongside other senior officers of the Ports Authority Police Command.

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was also represented by its Principal Security Officers, PSOs, from the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

In a statement issued by its National President, Yinka Aroyewun, COMTUA said the parties agreed to maintain peace and avoid any action capable of disrupting law and order along the port corridors.

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police directed both parties to comply with the resolutions reached at the meeting, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace, ensuring uninterrupted traffic movement and sustaining port operations.

The parties also agreed that neither group would engage in committee or union activities, including revenue collection and ticket sales, along the port access corridors.

“The Police Command reaffirmed that revenue collection and sale of tickets on the port access roads is illegal and will not be allowed,” the statement said.

COMTUA commended the Western Ports Police Command for what it described as a timely intervention and urged truck operators to continue with their legitimate businesses without fear of harassment or illegal ticket collection.

“We, in COMTUA, commend the Western Ports Police Command for its timely intervention and fatherly role.

“We remain committed to peace and urge all truckers to go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or illegal ticket collection,” it said.