Unchecked, rising extortion crippling maritime haulage sub-sector

With several government initiatives designed to curb the activities of extortionists in the maritime industry, the impact on the haulage sector has remained unabated as the number of extortion checkpoints has doubled since 2022, ADAKU ONYENUCHEYA writes.

The growing number of extortion points in the maritime haulage has continued to stall both the sector and the country’s economy, with the perpetrators now operating openly with impunity.

The unchecked activities of the extortionists at Lagos seaports and along the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) corridors have severe impacts on trade facilitation, transport businesses, human lives, the maritime sector, the economy and the country’s international image.

Despite promises from the state government and calls for collaboration among government agencies and security authorities to address the menace at Tin Can and Apapa ports, as well as the Mile 2-Lagos-Badagry expressway, extortion points continue to proliferate.

The Guardian found that the number of extortion checkpoints along the Lagos port corridors, manned by both state and non-state actors, which was estimated as 30 by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) two years ago, has increased to about 60.

In July 2024, the NPA lamented the increasing extortion activities at Lagos ports, as its investigation identified collection flash points ranging from N500 to N15,000.

From Ijora Olopa to Apapa port and Mile 2 to Tin Can Island port there are about 60 points, where truck drivers pay between N1,000 and N5,000. The most notorious checkpoint collects between N15,000 and N20,000 daily from each truck accessing the two ports in Lagos.

Truckers lamented that they are forced to pay about N70,000 daily to access the Lagos ports to these extortionists, who use dangerous tactics to collect the money without minding the lives at risk.

The Mile 2-Lagos-Badagry expressway, a critical international corridor, also suffers from over 20 extortion points, with each truck paying about N60,000 daily.
Approximately 3,000 trucks access the Lagos ports daily, each spending about N130,000 on extortion, totaling N390 million per day.

This menace not only causes financial loss to truckers but also significantly increases the cost of transporting goods, with customers ultimately paying 20 per cent more.

The NPA, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, last month, embarked on a week-long clearing of illegal structures used as extortion points along the Lagos ports corridors to enhance trade facilitation and improve the security and safety of port users.

The operation, conducted by the Nigerian Army, Navy, Nigerian Police, NPA security, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), freed the ports from traffic congestion but failed to address extortion.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the need for secured port areas with an international outlook, expressing a commitment to uplift port standards and remove encumbrances hindering trade facilitation.

However, the NPA soon decried the resurgence of extortion activities along port access roads, noting ineffective efforts to curb the menace. The General Secretary of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mohammed Bala, raised the alarm over rampant extortion checkpoints surrounding Apapa and Tin Can ports, with violent activities by both governmental and non-governmental entities on container trucks along port corridors and international routes.

According to Bala, who also serves in the same capacity at the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), these issues severely hamper the progress and stability of trucking operations and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Despite our position as one of the largest employers of labour in the maritime industry, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and being the lifeline of the ports and supply chain, our operations are under constant threat,” Bala lamented.

He revealed that from Ijora Olopa to Apapa, inbound trucks spend about N70,000 daily due to illicit demands by non-state and state actors, even with electronic call-up tickets.

According to him, the situation is equally dire on the Mile 2-Lagos-Badagry Expressway, a critical international corridor. The General Manager of Operations at the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Stephen Okafor, noted that extortion activities translate to unbudgeted expenses for truck owners, contributing about 10 per cent to 15 per cent of their daily overhead costs. He said the cumulative financial loss runs into billions yearly, affecting not only the transport sector but also the broader economy.

The activities of these extortionists have resulted in significant financial losses, life-threatening injuries, and fatalities for truck drivers. According to The Guardian’s findings, these hoodlums compromise safety by climbing onto moving trucks, dragging the steering with drivers, cutting container brake hoses, and unlocking container twists, sometimes causing containers and trucks to fall.

Bala stated that truck drivers face brutal beatings, while their trucks are often damaged, rendering them non-compliant with Minimum Safety Standards. He also mentioned frequent theft of truck batteries from vehicles queued along the ports.

A truck owner, Collins Ejiofor, reported that an average of 20 truck drivers die yearly due to the activities. He noted that the financial loss incurred by truckers runs into billions yearly, with immeasurable human costs and psychological trauma on survivors.

The Executive Secretary of NARTO, Aloga Ogbogo, narrated the daily ordeal faced by container truck drivers, explaining that extortionists attack, distract, and demand money from drivers, sometimes pulling gasoline supply to trucks to halt them, causing unnecessary hold-ups.

He emphasised that violence and intimidation by these extortionists escalate to physical assaults, vandalism, and cargo theft, significantly impacting the trucking business and drivers.

Ogbogo explained that the disruption of logistics and supply chains leads to significant financial burdens on truck owners, who must repair damaged vehicles to meet minimum safety standards and compensate injured drivers.

He said the death toll among truck drivers due to extortion activities is alarmingly high, with survivors experiencing profound psychological impacts, living in constant fear of assault or death on the job.

According to him, the trucking industry plays a vital role in Nigeria’s economy, facilitating the movement of goods and services, however, extortion activities in Apapa-Ijora and Tin Can-Mile 2 significantly hinder this process.

Stakeholders stress the urgent need for government authorities to address these illegal activities, which disrupt logistics and supply chains, and inflate the cost of doing business in the maritime sector.

The AMATO General Secretary called for urgent action from regulatory agencies to synergise on policy measures aimed at addressing these challenges. He emphasised the need for enhanced trade facilitation, improved safety, seamless cargo evacuation, port security, and overall ease of doing business.

On his part, Ejiofor stressed the need for concerted efforts from law enforcement, government authorities in the maritime sector, and the community to ensure truck drivers’ safety, restore economic stability in the transport sector, and uphold Nigeria’s image as a reliable and secure transport hub.

Okafor said effective security measures are essential to ensure drivers’ safety and smooth trucking operations. He said removing these hoodlums would not only protect lives and property but also enhance the country’s international image.

“Addressing extortion in the maritime haulage sector requires coordinated and sustained responses from law enforcement and government authorities. The ports corridors are vital economic arteries impacting the country’s GDP and effective security measures are crucial for the safety of drivers and smooth operation of the trucking business,” he stated.