Lagos Port manager drives free medical, welfare support for Ijora community
Residents of Ijora in Lagos received free medical checks, essential drugs, and food packages on Thursday as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) rolled out its
Residents of Ijora in Lagos received free medical checks, essential drugs, and food packages on Thursday as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) rolled out its first-ever community health outreach.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Port Manager, Ibrahim Lawal, in collaboration with the Ijora royal family, aimed to promote early disease detection and improve welfare in the host community.
Lawal said the outreach was conceived to help residents uncover hidden health conditions through basic screening and professional guidance.
"We thought of it that we should at least carry out a health awareness for them. It’s not much, but as the Kabiyesi said earlier, there is nothing small when it comes to health. You may be surprised at the results you get when people are tested,” he said.
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The port manager explained that several people live with ailments like high blood pressure without knowing it, stressing that a periodic medical checkup could prevent complications. He linked the outreach to the welfare-oriented vision of the NPA’s management under Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.
“Our management, led by Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, places a lot of importance on people’s welfare. That is why we decided to collaborate with the palace to organise this awareness programme for the general community,” he added.
Describing the exercise as the beginning of a long-term social commitment, Lawal said the Authority intends to sustain similar interventions.
“This is the first one, and by the grace of God, it will not be the last. We may not promise it will be yearly, but we will continue to see how we can sustain it,” he said.
Beyond medical services, food distribution formed a vital part of the outreach, which Lawal said was deliberate to promote nutrition as a foundation for good health.
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“There is food as well. If you eat good food and drink clean water, it is also part of your health. What you consume matters a lot,” he stated.
Residents received medications for common ailments detected during screenings, alongside health counselling and nutritional guidance.
Lawal also urged participants to practise personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and moderation in daily living.
The Prince of Ijora Land, Aromire Sijuade, hailed the programme as a landmark intervention that signalled a shift in how the maritime sector engages its host communities. He described the outreach as an “eye-opener” that revealed how the port can contribute to community welfare beyond economic activity.
He said, “You can see the medicines available and the food packages being distributed. It shows there is strong support. It is not just about sharing food; people are being checked and given medication to support their daily lives.
“This initiative shows that the port can give back to the community, not just in business, but in health, in welfare, and in many other ways,” he added.
Sijuade called on other maritime organisations to emulate the NPA’s approach by integrating social programmes that directly benefit host communities, noting that such efforts foster goodwill and strengthen local ties.
Community leaders and residents alike commended the Authority for what they described as a timely and impactful programme, particularly in bridging the gap in access to basic healthcare.
