#EndSARS Protest: NPA lost over N1bn to attack- Hadiza

The Management Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, on Monday said that the authority lost over one billion Naira in value of materials vandalised during the #EndSARS protest that rocked the country.

The managing director made the disclosure in Abuja before the Senator Danjuma Goje- led Senate Committee on Marine Transport to defend the 2021 budget.

She said that the sum of N807million had been assigned for rehabilitation of the burnt portion of the agency’s building.

She specified that the amount was different from monies to be spent on the replacement of 27 vehicles set ablaze by the vandals and three that were stolen.

Explaining on the losses suffered by NPA during the #EndSARS Protests,  she said, “These vehicles being operational ones, need to be replaced as soon as insurance companies come up with the aspect of losses to be shouldered.

“Aside burnt building and vehicles, other working tools like 317 computers were looted as well as photocopiers, cost of replacement of which will be above a billion Naira when added to the N807million already estimated for the rehabilitation of the burnt building ”

She, however, gave assurances to the committee that based on the ongoing arrangement with the Lagos State Government and NIWA, the NPA was coming up with a lasting solution to trucks gridlock on roads leading to the ports in Lagos.

She added that an electronic call-up system had been put in place for trucks accessing the ports for the evacuation of goods.

Her words:  “Truck Park has been established in Orile, which is to serve as call up centre for any truck waiting to evacuate goods at the ports.

“Besides this arrangement, ultra-modern Rail line leading to Apapa port, and water transportation being offered by NIWA, are also helping out.”