Nigeria’s Ports Authority (NPA) has announced that only port users with an electronic port pass or identification cards issued by approved authorities would be allowed into the country’s ports.

According to the BusinessDay Nigeria newspaper, the NPA set up this measure to check that people’s entrance into the ports is in line with the provisions of the International Ships and Ports Facilities Security (ISPS) code.

Adenike Sonaike, general manager of Western ports of the NPA said, “We have severally warned people who have no business being at the port to desist from coming to the port premises.”

“We will go a step further to ensure that such people do not have access to the port, and anyone who flouts this order will be arrested and prosecuted by security operatives”, she was quoted in the newspaper.

Sonaike further explained that the port is a security area where only authorised persons are allowed to come, and that it is the responsibility of NPA to ensure the safety and security of lives and goods at the ports.

She also warned hawkers, miscreants and people who wander aimlessly around the port environment to refrain from such acts or risk possible arrest from security operatives.