The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has warned four terminal operators for causing pollution inside the port.
The Port Manager, Mr. Debo Lawal, shared this information during an interview with reporters in Lagos on Tuesday.
He said managing a port is difficult but rewarding. It requires daily attention to operations, the environment, and security, and managers must always be ready to solve problems.
Mr. Lawal explained that port management involves handling many challenges, including emotional and organisational issues. However, he believes these problems can be solved with good planning.
As part of efforts to protect the environment, Lawal said four terminals were recently given warning letters for breaking their lease rules and causing pollution at Apapa Port.
He gave an example of a factory polluting a nearby terminal. The management is now asking the factory to adjust its funnel to reduce harmful smoke.
He said the NPA checks all pollution complaints through physical inspections. The authority wants all terminals to stay clean and follow environmental rules.
Lawal said there are penalties for polluting the port, but the NPA first tries to work with operators. They give instructions and set deadlines before applying any punishments.
Some of the instructions include changing factory funnels and adding devices to control pollution, in line with international environmental standards.
On security, Lawal said the port’s security team works closely with the port police. They regularly patrol both inside the port and in nearby waters.
He also said that management has recently given more water patrol boats to the marine police to help improve security, especially as the port gets busier from September to December.
