TRUCK drivers’ associations within the Nigerian maritime industry have taken divergent positions on the plan to withdraw their services in demonstration of grievances against illegal extortion and forceful imposition of levies by state and non-state actors along the port corridors.
Touting, extortion and other illegal activities have continued to thrive on the Lagos port corridors which the government, its agencies and regulatory authorities are expected to put an end to.
In two separate reports (here and here), The ICIR investigated the illegal activities that go on along the Lagos port corridors.
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC) said to be led by the duo of Remi Ogungbemi and Lookman Shittu, and other associations within the maritime industry have proposed to withdraw their services over dissatisfaction on the harassment, forceful and illegal collections of levies by state and non-state actors along the port corridors.
In a statement dated Friday, August 30, the National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP) declared not to join the planned withdrawal of service based on some allegations it put forward.
The statement was signed by its chairman, Adisa Moshood Olaitan.
According to Olaitan, NAMTOP recognised the right of individuals and groups to withdraw service, protest and engage government, security agencies on issues, but asserted that AMATO and the other group were not representing the interests of the entire truck owners and operators in the maritime transport industry.
Although his members condemn and partially agreed with the other groups on issues concerning extortion, harassment, and intimidation by state and non-state actors, but disagreed on the planned withdrawal of service by truckers.
Olaitan alleged that the other groups have points of extortion and sale of illegal tickets along the port corridors.
“The said planners are in partnership with RTEAN (Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria) and NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers) on the extortion business, as could be seen in their fraternity in the past.
“Members of the said groups led by One 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, the chairman of LASTCOC,” the NAMTOP chairman further alleged.
Olaitan said NAMTOP wants a holistic investigation and prosecution of all acts of extortion and illegality being imposed against truckers.
“We in NAMTOP are using this medium to inform the general public that we are not part of the proposed withdrawal of service.
“We are open for business as usual. We believe that this action will cause unnecessary disruption to the maritime industry and may lead to economic losses for all stakeholders involved,” he said.
Olaitan added that the groups are planning to shut down the port and disrupt economic activities, calling on the government and security agencies to prevent it.
The ICIR contacted the chairman of AMATO, Remi Ogungbemi, and he confirmed the development.He said, “We are not planning to protest nor strike, but planning to peacefully withdraw our services.
“We do not expect anyone that is not part of us to join, but every trucker that has suffered or suffering the menace of the hoodlums will not disassociate from the peaceful exercise that will believe will further draw the attention of relevant authorities to our predicaments.”
Ogungbemi explained that the proposed withdrawal of service is to express their grievances against unending brutalisation of drivers, damaging and vandalisation of their trucks and forceful demanding of money from drivers by hoodlums.
The reason also include the outrageous bills imposed by states for removing breakdown trucks.
“We want the government to outlaw the ignoble activities of the street miscreants that are inflicting cruelty on our drivers, causing pains and economic hardships,” Ogungbemi said.
On the NAMTOP’s allegation that AMATO and the other groups have points of extortion and sale of illegal tickets along the port corridors, Ogungbemi refuted it.
He said, “That’s not true; as far as AMATO is concerned, we weren’t involved and wouldn’t be part of the extortionist.
“You can do your independent investigation to ascertain; I can assure you that you can’t see any member of Amato involved in such a primitive way of doing things.”