Lagos Truckers Raise Alarm Over Extortion, Assaults By Toll Collectors

Lagos Truckers Raise Alarm Over Extortion, Assault By Toll Collectors

Aggrieved members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners and Allied Services (AMATO) have cried out to the Lagos state government to save them from the alarming rise in violence, including vandalization of trucks, extortion, assault, and even fatalities perpetrated by both state and non-state extortionists operating within and around the port corridors.

During a press conference held on Wednesday at AMATO’s office in Apapa, Lagos, the association outlined several urgent requests including a complete ban on the establishment of roadblocks and checkpoints for toll collection on major highways, in accordance with sections of the Taxes and Levies Act of 2004, which prohibits any entity, including tax authorities, from erecting roadblocks for tax or levy collection.

It also requested that commuter bus associations and local governments in Lagos State must cease the harassment of truck drivers, including the imposition and sale of tickets, as truckers do not interfere in their operations.

AMATO called on the Federal Government to prevent hoodlums from vandalizing trucks and physically assaulting and extorting drivers on the roads.

The truckers group, which comprises over 26 associations and civil society organizations dedicated to the transportation of the nation’s import and export cargoes, expressed outrage over the increasingly hostile working conditions exacerbated by rising operational costs and extortion by toll collection entities like the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), among others.

The State Chairman and other stakeholders highlighted the significant challenges faced by truckers in the region, asserting that haulage is a crucial component of the maritime industry and vital to the economy.

The group, a consortium of truckers expressed their dismay over the detrimental impact of these criminal activities on the Nigerian economy, cargo delivery, and truck operations in the Lagos port areas.

According to the aggrieved members, trucking business is slowly collapsing due to sabotage by the activities of touts affiliated to RTEAN and touts NURTW.

The Chairman stated, “The extortion and violence directed at our drivers by hoodlums masquerading as union workers and toll collectors have become unbearable. Drivers are working hard yet earning too little because of excessive charges from various groups, leaving us with nothing at the end of the day. Complaints often result in beatings or worse.”

He further emphasized, “We are self-funded businesses that contribute substantially to the economy, yet we face threats and violence. Enough is enough. Government intervention is crucial.”

He said: “The maritime truck operators are among the largest employers in Nigeria, significantly contributing to the country’s GDP. They work tirelessly, often under harsh conditions, to support the national economy.

“We gather here today, August 28, 2024, to urgently call the attention of the Federal Government to the menace posed by hoodlums operating under the guise of commuter associations, like the NURTW and RTEAN, who threaten our lives, vandalize our trucks, and undermine our businesses,” the Chairman stated.

The activities of these hoodlums are causing severe disruptions, including extortion, assaults, and truck vandalization, resulting in tragic accidents that have claimed lives, including those of military and police personnel.

“Our business is collapsing. We can no longer maintain our trucks or comply with safety standards due to these relentless attacks.

“The hostile environment created by these criminals is also hampering Nigeria’s trade facilitation and deterring foreign investment, with many logistics companies relocating from Lagos due to the threats posed by these hoodlums.

“Despite numerous letters sent to the Lagos State Government, the State Police Command, and the DSS, no solutions have been forthcoming. This has prompted truckers to gather and publicly declare that we can no longer tolerate working tirelessly only to have their earnings stripped away by extortionists, especially during this period of economic hardship and rising operational costs, ” he added.

If the Federal Government fails to address these issues, the association warned it may resort to shutting down port operations by withdrawing their services until meaningful solutions are implemented.

AMATO called on the President, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, the Director General of the DSS, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Chairpersons of the National Assembly Committees on Maritime Transport Affairs to intervene and protect maritime transport operators from the clutches of extortionists disguised as NURTW, RTEAN, and local government workers.