The Nation Newspaper

Tag: truckers

  • Truckers’ revolt on expressway

    Truckers’ revolt on expressway

    Movement by motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was grounded for some while last Wednesday when truck drivers blocked both lanes of the major artery at Ogere axis, Ogun State, with their trucks. They acted in solidarity with their colleagues who alleged being extorted by traffic officials.

    Reports said security agents earlier impounded three trucks for wrong parking on the Ogere-Sapade section of the busy highway. One of the truck drivers claimed that traffic officers seized his vehicle battery and, in protest, abandoned his truck right in the centre of the Ibadan-bound side of the highway. In seeming suggestion that the lone tuck disruption of traffic not enough, fellow truck drivers mobilised to further block the lane with articulated vehicles and extend the barricade to the Lagos-bound side of the expressway.

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    The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) deplored bottlenecks often created by truck drivers who park at the roadsides while ignoring provided trailer parks – private and government-owned – resulting in traffic obstructions and gridlocks, avoidable road crashes and narrowing of the road corridor. The agency’s spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed that the Ogere division task force earlier apprehended three trucks for illegal double-parking. He further explained that one of the drivers whose truck was impounded, rather than follow required procedure for securing release of the truck, mobilised other drivers to protest the impoundment.

    According to Akinbiyi, the driver got unruly in his bid to retrieve the impounded truck. “(He) reported back at the task force office by 07:00hours, spitting fire and brimstone in a bid to secure his truck. The said driver exhibited high-handedness, irrational and uncompromising behaviour, threatening to cause chaos if he wasn’t attended to immediately, even though the time for proper documentation and enlightenment before release, which is 08:00hours, had already been communicated to him.” He added: “Unfortunately, he left in annoyance and went on to instigate his fellow truck drivers – a deliberate act intended to cause mayhem, obstruction and delay in travel time, and expose road users to risk and danger along the Ogere-Sapade road, all with the intent of embarrassing the state government.”

    On how matters got resolved, Akinbiyi said: “Orderliness (was) restored through the intervention of the Ogun State Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunnowo, the Seriki Hausawa of Ogere, and the acting TRACE Commander-General Omonayajo Elias, who also ordered the release of the earlier apprehended trucks that were handed over to the Seriki Hausawa and other transport union representatives to douse the built-up tension along the axis.”

    The manner of resolution suggests the truckers were appeased, which could mean something wrong was done by traffic officials. Still, it was the height of lawlessness for these truckers to have barricaded the public highway to press a personal grouse. They should’ve been brought to justice.

  • Truckers partner NTVOA for smooth port operations, reduce costs

    Truckers partner NTVOA for smooth port operations, reduce costs

    Truck owners, under the aegis of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), have announced a strategic partnership with the National Towing Vehicle Owners Association (NTVOA).

    The partnership, it was gathered, is aimed at ensuring their smooth operations at the ports and preventing incidences that may lead to disruptions of their operations. 

    Recall that recently, the truck owners had threatened to embark on strike over issues bordering on what it deemed as the excessiveness of the Lagos state government committees and non state actors which impinges on their operations.

    The agreement was finalised during a meeting involving the leadership AMATO, NARTO, MWUN and NTVOA. 

    It is poised to ensure the timely and effective evacuation of broken-down trucks throughout the state with the application of NTVOA’s fleet of 40 heavy-duty towing vehicles.

    According to President of AMATO, Remi Ogungbemi, the partnership seeks to enhance towing services, minimise operational costs for truckers, and improve overall project execution across Lagos.  

    Ogungbemi highlighted that the decision was partly influenced by an agreement reached with the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Shippers Council. Under the arrangement, truckers are now required to remove broken-down trucks via state’s NTVOA’s branch.  

    “The body has over 40 heavy-duty Tow Trucks that they are ready to deploy to various locations within Lagos metropolis for immediate removal of any of our trucks that break down day and night 24/7 without interference of any government agencies,” he said.  

    He further explained that involving government agencies in towing operations had become financially burdensome for truckers. 

    “We resolve to embark on this arrangement because the involvement of government in the exercise is impacting negatively on our business, as they have become a cash cow to us,” Ogungbemi added.  

    To ensure the smooth implementation of this initiative, a joint committee, he indicated, has been established with members drawn from AMATO, NARTO, MWUN, and NTVOA. 

    Read Also: Dock workers, truckers threaten port shut down

    The committee, he said, is tasked with developing rollout plans, establishing affordable towing fees, and drafting a detailed blueprint to ensure efficient execution of the project.  

    “The committee’s mandate includes creating a detailed blueprint to ensure the partnership’s objectives are met effectively and efficiently,” Ogungbemi stated. 

    “Notifications will be sent to relevant Government agencies and security outfits to secure their cooperation and support for seamless implementation of the project with zero interference by street urchins and uniform extortion actors in the metropolis.”  

    The establishment of the joint committee to work out modalities for affordable towing fees and the call for security support, according to Ogungbemi, underscore the commitment of all parties to ensuring the project’s success. 

    “This initiative is poised to benefit truckers, towing operators, and the broader logistics ecosystem in Lagos State,” he added.

  • Dock workers, truckers threaten port shut down

    Dock workers, truckers threaten port shut down

    Dock workers unions and truck drivers have threatened to shut down the Lagos ports over alleged extortion by the state’s enforcement agencies.

    But while the unions have issued the warning, another key industry body, Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), has dissociated itself from the planned shutdown of the ports.

    The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), yesterday, issued a three-day ultimatum to the Lagos State government, demanding an end to what they described as indiscriminate arrests and exorbitant fines imposed by the Lagos State Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles and the Special Traffic Management Committee and Enforcement Team.

    At a press briefing, Leye Thompson,  founding President of COMTUA, alleged that the committees had strayed from their original mandate and had become instruments of extortion.

     “These committees were supposed to manage traffic, but instead, they have turned into self-serving entities, arresting trucks indiscriminately and imposing outrageous fines ranging from N200,000 to N400,000 per truck, which are often paid into private accounts,” the unions alleged.

    The group further accused the committees of hijacking trucks en route to the ports, delaying cargo movement, and creating artificial bottlenecks that significantly impact the ease of doing business at the ports. They called on the state government to immediately dissolve the committees and release all impounded trucks unconditionally, warning that failure to comply by Wednesday, February 26, 2025, would result in a statewide strike.

     “In line with our unambiguous demand, we hereby issue this notice of a three-day ultimatum, which would expire on Wednesday, 26th February 2025. If our demands are not met, we shall embark on an industrial action and withdraw the services of all our members throughout the state,” the statement read.

    The unions also recounted a violent incident that allegedly occurred on February 20, 2025, at Area B, Apapa, where they claimed that members of the enforcement committees, in collaboration with street urchins, attacked truck drivers and haulage operators. One trucker reportedly sustained grievous injuries and remains hospitalised, with the case currently under police investigation at the Area B Police Station.

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    Another incident, they cited occurred, in the early hours of February 23, 2025, when members of the Abandoned Vehicle Committee allegedly stormed the Unity Bonded Terminal and impounded over 100 trucks, labeling them as abandoned vehicles.

     “We do not understand why these committees focus solely on maritime truckers operating along the Apapa Port access roads and the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    “It appears there is a deliberate effort to cripple port operations and sabotage the businesses of legitimate stakeholders who contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP,” the unions stated.

    The groups also noted that the committees’ actions were causing severe financial losses to truckers and importers, forcing factories and businesses to suspend operations due to the inability to receive imported materials.

    President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, voiced his support for the planned strike, stating that the union had a vested interest in the issue due to its haulage district.

    He said: “I want to use this medium to appeal to the two port managers to wake up to the action that is about to take place. If after three days nothing is done, there will be collaboration in support of the strike actions.

    “Some of our members are truckers and some of them have been suffering the fate. I also sit as the Deputy President of NLC and we are concerned about the activities of the truckers on the road.”

     “We are going to support them if nothing is done after three days. The port managers and NPA should stand up and correct the action that is about to cripple the activities of the port,” Adeyanju added.

    The unions warned that the alleged undue interference with truck movement is sabotaging Nigeria’s trade operations and urged the authorities to take immediate action to prevent disruptions that could cripple the nation’s maritime sector.

    COMTUA in a counter-statement signed by its National President, Adeyinka Aroyewun, distanced itself from the proposed shutdown, deepening the divide among trucking stakeholders. The association condemned the planned action and accused MWUN, NARTO, and AMATO of contributing to the very congestion they claim to oppose.

     “The call-up system has never worked, and it will never work,” COMTUA declared, alleging that certain trucking groups manipulate the system and collude with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) officials to create artificial congestion.

    The association further accused some trucking park operators, including Olaleye Thompson and Rasaki Igbalaye, of engaging in fraudulent activities such as the use of fake number plates and unauthorized truck access.

    COMTUA also alleged that protesting unions benefit financially from the crisis by charging truckers exorbitant fees for each trip, further burdening an already strained logistics sector.

     “The Lagos State government provides legal avenues for disputing the actions of traffic enforcement agencies. We urge aggrieved stakeholders to channel their complaints through the Ministry of Transport rather than resort to drastic measures like shutting down the port,” COMTUA’s statement added.

    The association called for a comprehensive review of the electronic call-up system and an independent audit of trucking operations around the port. It insists that only transparency and accountability can resolve the persistent gridlock and inefficiencies plaguing Nigeria’s maritime sector.

  • JUST IN: Maritime unions, truckers threaten port shutdown over alleged indiscriminate arrests, arbitrary fines

    JUST IN: Maritime unions, truckers threaten port shutdown over alleged indiscriminate arrests, arbitrary fines

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) have issued a three-day ultimatum to the Lagos state government, threatening to withdraw their services and shut down port operations.

    The action is in response to alleged indiscriminate arrests and exorbitant fines imposed by the Lagos state committee on the removal of abandoned vehicles and the special traffic management committee and enforcement team.

    At a press briefing on Monday, Leye Thompson, a notable truck owner and founding President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA), alleged that these committees had strayed from their initial mandate and were now being used as instruments of extortion, unfairly imposing arbitrary charges on truck operators.

    “These committees were supposed to manage traffic, but instead, they have turned into self-serving entities, arresting trucks indiscriminately and imposing outrageous fines ranging from N200,000 to N400,000 per truck, which are often paid into private accounts,” Thompson alleged.

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    The group further accused the committees of hijacking trucks en route to the ports, delaying cargo movement, and creating artificial bottlenecks that significantly impact the ease of doing business at the ports. 

    They called on the state government to immediately dissolve the committees and release all impounded trucks unconditionally, warning that failure to comply by Wednesday, February 26, 2025, would result in a statewide strike.

    “In line with our unambiguous demand, we hereby issue this notice of a three-day ultimatum, which would expire on Wednesday, 26th February 2025. If our demands are not met, we shall embark on an industrial action and withdraw the services of all our members throughout the state,” the statement read.

    The unions also recounted a violent incident that allegedly occurred on February 20, 2025, at Area B, Apapa, where they claimed that members of the enforcement committees, in collaboration with street urchins, attacked truck drivers and haulage operators.

    According to them, one trucker sustained grievous injuries and remains hospitalised, with the case currently under police investigation at the Area B Police Station.

    Another incident, they cited occurred, in the early hours of February 23, 2025, when members of the Abandoned Vehicle Committee allegedly stormed the Unity Bonded Terminal and impounded over 100 trucks, labelling them as abandoned vehicles.

    “We do not understand why these committees focus solely on maritime truckers operating along the Apapa Port access roads and the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    It appears there is a deliberate effort to cripple port operations and sabotage the businesses of legitimate stakeholders who contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP,” the unions stated.

    The groups also noted that the committees’ actions were causing severe financial losses to truckers and importers, forcing factories and businesses to suspend operations due to the inability to receive imported materials.

    President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, voiced his support for the planned strike, stating that the union had a vested interest in the issue due to its haulage district.

    He said: “I want to use this medium to appeal to the two port managers to wake up to the action that is about to take place. If after three days nothing is done, there will be collaboration in support of the strike actions.

    “Some of our members are truckers and some of them have been suffering the fate. I also sit as the Deputy President of NLC and we are concerned about the activities of the truckers on the road.”

    “We are going to support them if nothing is done after three days. The port managers and NPA should stand up and correct the action that is about to cripple the activities of the port,” Adeyanju added.

    The unions warned that the alleged undue interference with truck movement is sabotaging the nation’s trade operations and urged the authorities to take immediate action to prevent disruptions that could cripple the maritime sector.