The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have pledged to engage the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to address security threats posed by extortionists in the haulage industry and hoodlums who vandalise port transport infrastructure.

Both agencies also pledged to work with all stakeholders to improve the haulage sector’s operational environment, ensuring the necessary infrastructure is secure while maritime trade facilitation in Nigeria continues to thrive without disruption.

They made the pledge in Lagos during a sensitisation programme on ‘Safe-to-load on Nigerian Roads’, organised by NSC in collaboration with FRSC. The programme aimed to promote safety in cargo transportation on Nigerian roads.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Pius Akutah, emphasised the critical need to address road safety and security challenges and protect transportation infrastructure, which are vital to the country’s economic activities.

Akutah highlighted the concerns stakeholders raised regarding road transport’s safety and security, particularly the haulage industry, noting that these issues are not only about preventing accidents but also about safeguarding the infrastructure that supports trade.

Akutah pointed out that the vandalisation of container trucks, especially those integral to the port transport infrastructure, is a significant concern that demands immediate attention.

“We cannot afford to have players in this sector who invest so much in these infrastructures and face destruction by hoodlums. Once a vehicle operates within the value chain of transport infrastructure to support trade and economic activities, it becomes a critical infrastructure that must be protected,” he stated.

Akutah noted that the collaboration between the NSC and FRSC, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has focused on critical areas such as the safety of cargoes in transit under the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) and establishing minimum safety requirements for fleet operations on Nigerian roads.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, emphasised the significant role the haulage industry plays in driving Nigeria’s economic development. Mohammed highlighted the necessity of collaboration between security agencies and the haulage sector to ensure a safe and facilitative environment for businesses to operate in.

The Corps Marshal acknowledged that while the haulage industry is vital to the nation’s economy, challenges persist, including the involvement of specific security agents in the sector.

He urged that any issues involving these agents be promptly reported to relevant authorities, including the National Security Adviser, so they can be addressed effectively.

He underscored the importance of creating a cleaner and more attractive operational space for haulage businesses, emphasising that a safer environment would encourage more investment in the sector.

Mohammed called for concerted efforts to make the haulage industry more efficient and secure, enhancing operational conditions and ensuring that businesses can thrive without unnecessary hindrances.

Speaking on behalf of the truckers, the Secretary-General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mohammed Sani, lamented that hoodlums and extortion “bandits” along the port access roads, attack truck drivers at will, smashing vehicle glasses and cutting brake pipes while on motion just to extort the drivers.

He said that between January and August 2024, over six trucks fell, leading to a loss of billions of naira. He noted that the haulage sector is fast eroding due to the activities of hoodlums disrupting the ease of doing business at the ports. Sani solicited the support of the NSC and the ONSA to address the insecurity facing truckers delivering cargo from the ports.