The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with security and traffic management agencies, will launch a comprehensive enforcement campaign aimed at eradicating illegal toll collection points on the roads leading to Apapa Ports.
This decision follows rising concerns from the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) regarding the ongoing assaults on truck drivers, the vandalism of trucks, and extortion along the Tincan-Apapa Corridor.
Truck drivers, who have long suffered from harassment, had initially planned to go on strike. However, the strike action has since been suspended after receiving assurances from government officials.
During a meeting at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Annex Office in Marina, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, confirmed that raids will commence on Tuesday to rid the port corridors of unauthorised individuals posing as traffic and security agents. Giwa condemned the unlawful activities, describing them as acts of economic sabotage, and emphasised that under the 2018 Lagos State Transport Sector Reforms Law, the collection of tolls on public roads is strictly forbidden.
Giwa then stated that no union is permitted to levy any form of toll on truckers operating along the corridor, reassuring the truckers that the government, in conjunction with key stakeholders such as the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), will address the issues and work to restore order along the access roads.
The state government, together with the NPA and other agencies, has committed to providing the necessary resources and support to the committees responsible for overseeing smooth port operations. Giwa also encouraged the truckers to utilise the whistleblower app to report illegal toll activities, enabling the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to respond promptly with real-time evidence.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, who represented the Commissioner of Police, pledged the full support of the Nigerian Police Force in tackling the challenges faced by the truckers. He urged the drivers to report any incidents so that immediate action could be taken.
The meeting concluded with an agreement that representatives from the truckers’ and transport unions will hold regular consultations to develop practical solutions to the issues raised. The collection of tolls from truckers was formally abolished, and the police were tasked with ensuring the full enforcement of this directive.
In attendance at the meeting were officials from the NPA, the Department of State Security, General Manager of LASTMA Olalekan Bakare Oki, Senior Special Assistant on Transportation and Logistics Adekoya Hassan, AMARTO Chairman Chief Remi Ogungbemi, NURTW Chairman Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, and RTEAN Chairman Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji, among others.
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