The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), will begin a two-day clean-up and enforcement operation along the Lagos port corridor on May 14 and 15, 2006 to address congestion and traffic bottlenecks around the Apapa and Tin Can ports.
In a statement, the Director-General of Environment Council, Zahrah Audu said the exercise, was aimed at improving trade facilitation and reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
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The DG said, “Congestion, unauthorised checkpoints, indiscriminate parking and uncoordinated activities along port access roads have continued to slow cargo movement and increase logistics costs.”
She said the operation would involve the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Government, port terminal operators and other security and regulatory agencies.
Improve Traffic Management
Audu explained that the exercise was expected to improve traffic management, reduce cargo delays and enhance operational efficiency within Nigeria’s busiest maritime corridor.
“The clean up operation is not intended to disrupt legitimate business activities but to create a more predictable and efficient environment for port users,”she said.
Benefits of the Clean up Operation
According to the statement, expected benefits of the exercise include improved traffic management, faster cargo movement, reduction in delays affecting businesses and port users, enhanced environmental sanitation and public order, and the removal of illegal structures and operational obstructions.
Audu stated that the operation would strengthen coordination among security and regulatory agencies operating within the port corridors.
Lawful Directives
She therefore urged freight forwarders, clearing agents, transport operators, traders and stakeholders within the ports ecosystem to cooperate with enforcement officials and comply with lawful directives during the operation.
The PEBEC was established in 2016 to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve Nigeria’s business environment and promote digital transparency in government parastatals
