Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has raised a red flag over worsening environmental and health conditions in the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors, citing serious concerns about the impact of industrial emissions from major manufacturing facilities.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MARAN President Godfrey Bivbere said the group is deeply worried about “increasingly hazardous working conditions” around facilities operated by major firms such as Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, the Dangote Group, Olem Agric, BUA Foods, and Honeywell Flour Mills.
According to MARAN, port users, journalists, workers, and security operatives frequenting the area have been experiencing symptoms including eye irritation, persistent coughing, and respiratory discomfort conditions the group attributes to airborne particles from nearby processing operations.
“The Apapa and Tin-can port corridors are a vital national asset and must be maintained to the highest environmental and health standards.”
“We are observing a significant presence of airborne dust, which raises concerns about long-term health implications and infrastructure degradation,” the association warned.
MARAN is calling for urgent action from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Specifically, the association wants an independent air quality test conducted and benchmarked against World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. It also recommended the deployment of mobile medical clinics to assist workers affected by prolonged exposure to the pollutants.
In its appeal, MARAN urged companies operating within the industrial zone to overhaul their environmental management systems by adopting global best practices, such as the use of enclosed silos and industrial dust extraction technologies.
The association also cautioned that continuous dust build-up could damage recently rehabilitated roads in the port area, potentially reversing gains made through public infrastructure investments.
Reaffirming its role as a watchdog in the maritime industry, MARAN pledged to continue its advocacy and collaborate with key stakeholders to promote safety, sustainability, and accountability across Nigeria’s critical port corridors.