Following FIJ’s report on the potential risk of explosion at Apapa seaport by keeping a fuel tanker among other trucks at the locked garage, the Police have now released the tanker.

On May 25, the NPA had ordered that ‘Baba Garage’, near Marine Bridge, be locked over the allegation that some export trucks were using the park to boycott duties.

Some police officers from Area B Police Command were, however, using the avenue for extortion while ignoring the potential risk of a fuel tanker explosion at the garage.

“At about 11 am this morning after your report, the police went to the park to take out the fully-loaded tanker,” a source told FIJ.

“But there’s still another one inside that they can’t take out unless they allow some other obstructing trucks to leave the garage.”

However, a truck driver who did not want to be named told FIJ some policemen have instructed each truck owner to pay N150,000 for their trucks to be passed.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Police Extortion Puts Apapa Port at Risk of Explosion

“If you like your motor and you want it to be released, go to Area B Police Station and pay N150,000,” he quoted one of the policemen as saying.

He added that they assumed that the Area Commander sent the policemen since the payment would be made at Area B.

Aremuogo Akinbayo Olasoji, the Area B Commander, however, denied giving an instruction for any payment before the release of the trucks. He also claimed to be unaware of the passage of any tanker this morning.

“I am not aware of any officer asking the truck drivers to pay to release their trucks,” he told FIJ.

“If I hear of anyone conniving with my boys to pay or collect bribes for truck passage, I will arrest all of them.

“The NPA and the State Governor ordered the closure of the garage because of the illegal operations. So if any truck owner wants his truck to be released, such a person must visit the Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport at the Governor’s Office for clearance.”