FOLLOWING The ICIR investigation into widespread extortion and touting at the Apapa and Tin Can ports corridor, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has promised to investigate and address the problem.
The development was disclosed on Friday, March 17, by the NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, a day after the second part of the investigation was published.
The ICIR had published the two parts on March 15 and March 16, on how the uncontrolled extortion and touting had claimed the lives of innocent citizens and impeded the efficiency of the electronic call-up system meant to solve the problem of port congestion.
Reacting to the report, Koko thanked The ICIR for the report and assured that the matter would be jointly investigated by the NPA and the Lagos State government.
“Thank you, [ICIR], for your investigative report and footage. I assure you this will be brought to a logical conclusion by my team @nigerianports and @followslag,” Koko tweeted in response to The ICIR post on Twitter.
Thank you, ICRC, for your investigative report and footage. I assure you this will be brought to a logical conclusion by my team @nigerianports and @followslag. https://t.co/PfuqOroDHy
— Mohammed Bello Koko (@MohdBelloKoko) March 17, 2023
After the investigation, numerous individuals shared their harrowing experiences with extortionists who operate along the Lagos ports corridor, highlighting the severity of the situation.
For instance, a Twitter user, @Mich12645298, narrated how his haulage business was ruined by the indiscriminate extortion by the marauding hoodlums.
Something that ruin my haulage business. touts, Lastma, trace & police collect all my savings, profits & operating expenses, I have 2 trucks, I sold one off when I couldn’t repair it continuously & I have to face another thing, I packed the second, bad country, too much extortion
— Omo iya alakara (@Mich12645298) March 17, 2023
“Something that ruin my haulage business. touts, Lastma, trace & police collect all my savings, profits & operating expenses, I have 2 trucks, I sold one off when I couldn’t repair it continuously & I have to face another thing, I packed the second, bad country, too much extortion.”
Another Twitter user, @EmmaChi06083385
It's treble…
from Apapa to Alaba, 1x40ft container pays around one hundred and fifty thousand naira and above to tout so they can allow the container to offload at Importer's warehouse
— J.C Nuel (@EmmaChi06083385) March 16, 2023
“It’s treble. From Apapa to Alaba, 1x40ft container pays around one hundred and fifty thousand naira and above to tout so they can allow the container to offload at Importer’s warehouse.”
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.