LASG, NPA address extortion concerns to avert truckers’ strike

The Lagos State government and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have stepped in to address the escalating extortion concerns of maritime truckers, averting a potential nationwide shutdown in the haulage industry.

The maritime truckers had previously issued an ultimatum threatening to halt services due to persistent extortion and attacks on drivers by hoodlums, which they said had worsened in recent months.

The looming strike, which threatened to cripple key logistics and shipping operations across the country, was suspended following an emergency meeting between the Federal Government, the Lagos State government, and representatives of various trucking unions and associations.

The meeting, held at the NPA Headquarters in Marina, Lagos, was attended by key stakeholders including the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Port Authority Police Command, the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and leaders from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

At the heart of the discussions was the truckers’ demand for an end to extortion by touts and rogue officials, as well as enhanced security measures to protect drivers from attacks by hoodlums.

The truckers, represented by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Consortium of Trucking Unions and Associations, had threatened to strike if their grievances were not urgently addressed.

The high-stakes meeting culminated in the signing of a communique jointly by the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the NPA, Olalekan Badmus, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State, Sola Giwa, and the President of AMATO/Consortium of Truckers,, Remi Ogungbemi.

The communique outlined key resolutions, including the abolition of toll collections from trailers and articulated trucks serving the ports, and a commitment by the Lagos State Police Commissioner to enforce the no-toll policy on Lagos roads.

Additionally, the extortion and attacks on truckers were condemned as economic sabotage.

The Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, assured truckers that the agency would collaborate with the Lagos State Government and law enforcement to address their concerns and prevent any disruption of the critical logistics chain at the ports.

Dantsoho, who was represented by Badmus, emphasised that the national economy could not afford a shutdown at this crucial time and that the resolution marked a significant step towards maintaining the flow of goods and services vital to the country.

With the agreements in place, AMATO and the Consortium of Truckers have suspended their planned strike, allowing time for the implementation of the resolutions and a return to normal operations.