Just as the consortium of trucking unions and associations under the auspices of the association of Maritime Truck Owners issued an ultimatum to stop service to the maritime industry over widespread cases of extortion and attacks on truckers by hoodlums and miscreants along the ports corridor, respective agencies in the industry have shown concern towards the group grievances, pledged to clamp down on miscreants and protect truckers from hoodlums attack.
The Nigerian Ports Authority under the leadership of Abubakar Dantsoho has collaborated with the Lagos State Government and the police High command to urgently address the truckers’ salient issues and prevent any down tool that will disrupt freight transport across the country.
Appealing to the maritime workers during a meeting on Monday, Dantsoho who was represented by the Executive Director Marine & Operations, Olalekan Badmus, said the authority is more concerned about the critical aspect of the ports logistics value chain that the maritime trucking community constitute and is ready to collaborate with Lagos State Government to ensure right measures are put in place.
Dantsoho emphasized that the national economy cannot afford any shutdown at the moment and will ensure all hands are on deck to address the truckers’ grievances and subsequent suspension of any planned strike action.
The meeting which culminated in the signing of a communiqué addressing the truckers’ grievances and subsequent suspension of the planned strike action, had in attendance Special Adviser on Transportation to the Lagos State Governor, Sola Giwa, Lagos Commissioner of Police and the Port Authority Police Command, the National President Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remi Ogungbemi, the General Manager Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Bakare Olalekan-Oki, chairperson of the Corporate Fleet Truck Owners Association, Mrs. Folake Soji George, the Chairman Lagos State Truck & Cargo Operators’ Committee, Lukman Shittu, leaders of NURTW, RTEAN amongst other industry leaders.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, on his part assured the truckers of a swift intervention to protect their drivers and trucks from harassment and attacks by hoodlums at the Nigerian ports.
He gave the assurance at a meeting with AMATO representatives on September 10, 2024, at the NSC headquarters in Lagos, revealing that the Council has begun consultations aimed at finding lasting solutions to their challenges.
Similarly, the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with other security and traffic management agencies vowed to take decisive action against the hoodlums along TinCan- Apapa corridor, urged the truckers to continue operations unhindered.
Speaking to the concerned truckers at the Nigerian Ports Authority Annex Office in Marina, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, announced that the relevant authorities would commence raids immediately to rid the port corridors of miscreants and unauthorised personnel posing as traffic and security agents.
The Special Adviser condemned the acts of vandalism and extortion as acts of economic sabotage, emphasising that under the 2018 State Transport Sector Reforms Law, the collection of tolls on Lagos roads is strictly prohibited.
He further stressed that no union is authorised to levy any form of toll on truckers operating along the corridor.
He assured the truckers that all contentious issues would be addressed in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Giwa commended the truckers for forming a unified front to facilitate dialogue and enhance coordination between the unions and truck operators.
He added that the Lagos State Government, alongside the NPA and other relevant agencies, would provide the necessary resources and support to the committees established to ensure smooth operations for truckers.
He also urged members of the consortium to utilise the whistleblower app to report any illegal activities, noting that this would lend credibility to their claims, as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority would receive real-time evidence.
Buttressing the Special Adviser’s remarks, representative of the Commissioner of Police, DCP Tijani Fatai pledged the full support of the Nigeria Police Force, urging truckers to report incidents so that the challenges they face in the state can be decisively addressed.
At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that representatives and spokespersons from the transport and truckers’ unions would meet regularly to develop actionable solutions to the issues raised by the unions. Also, the abrogation of toll collection from truckers servicing the ports and the police while ensuring total enforcement of collection of illegal tolls.
Difficulties faced by the truckers according to Muhammed Bala, the General Secretary of AMATO are brutalization of drivers and vandalization of trucks by hoodlums which not only jeopardize business operations but also disrupt the timely evacuation of goods from the ports, impacting the entire supply chain.
He was reported to have highlighted key demands of the association to include enforcement of the 2004 Tax and Levy Act, the establishment of an anti-hoodlum task force similar to the one protecting BRT buses, and the cessation of touts used by enforcement agencies such as LASTMA.
These measures, Bala argued, are essential to safeguarding truckers and ensure the smooth flow of goods across Lagos State.
However, in a press statement signed by Moshood Olaitan Adisa for National Association of Maritime Transport Operators and Adeyinka Aroyewun for Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations on August 30, 2024 and September 6, 2024 respectively, the two groups, though condemned the harassment and extortion of truckers, dissociated from the planned strike.
The statement made available to The Point by COMTUA National President reads in part, “The extortion, harassment, and intimidation of truckers, which have led to destruction of trucks, injuries, and death of personnel and members, is condemnable.
“The commission of these crimes involves but is not limited to NURTW and RTEAN members, as often emphasized by the intended protesters.
“Members of the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Committee (LASTCOC), the Association of Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO), and their co-conspirators cannot claim innocence on the matter, especially when members of these groups are currently involved in the act in Eric Moore by Hammed Saro, Ijora- Olopa by Rasaki Igbalaye, Olaseni Oladimeji in Amuwo Odofin, Issa Babatunde in Amuwo Odofin , Salawu Azees in Ikorodu, Wale in Lekki area and several parts of Lagos State on the road, against the warning and directives of the Commissioner of police Lagos state command.
“That the Association of Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO) represents only its registered members and not the entire trucking community.
“We, in COMTUA, wish to inform the general public that we are not part of the proposed withdrawal of service and shall not tolerate any act of disturbance to our operations and business on the proposed date.”
“NAMTOP in its letter posited that the said planners of withdrawal of service also have points of extortion and sale of illegal tickets; just like those they are condemning.
“The said planners are in partnership with RTEAN and NURTW on the extortion business, as could be seen in their fraternity in the past. We suspect a problem with the sharing formula.
“Members of the said groups led by Oladimeji Olaseni are behind the illegal collections and extortion in Amuwo Odofin using an illegal revenue ticket of Amuwo Odofin Local Government as a false instrument. Issa Babatunde Kunfayakum uses illegal Lagos State government tickets as his own false instrument to obtain truckers in the same area. Ahmed Saro is operating the same illegal tickets at the Erick Moore area of Surulere and Rasaki Igbalaye at Ijora Olopa, Lagos/Badagry express road under Mukaila Aliu, and many more places all under the headship of Lookman Shittu of the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC).
“NAMTOP is by this medium requesting a holistic investigation and prosecution of all acts of extortion and illegality and advising the general public against the diversionary tricks of these tendencies.”
