Port Extortions: Violent Clash Between Truckers, Security Officials Loom

…Truck Drivers To Begin #EndSars-Like Protest

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has warned that any moment from now, truck drivers in Lagos port would take destiny into their hands and engage in a violent clash with security officials demanding bribe around the port.

The association said that truck drivers have been pushed to the wall, and that a bloody protest akin to the #EndSars may reoccurs in Apapa if government fails to call security officials to order.

Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi in a letter to the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) dated 15th of June 2021 said that it has taken several appeals for calm by the association to sustain the peace in the port this long.

The association called the attention to NPA to the rising spate of harassment, intimidation and extortion of truckers by Police/LASTMA/NPA officials manning several checkpoints on the Apapa/Tincan port access roads despite introduction of Eto call up system aimed at promoting traffic sanity and minimizing human interference.

It says “The recent happenings at various checkpoints where Police/NPA/LASTMA officials are extorting truckers on the road in Apapa/Tincan at their right time of movement and carrying valid Etc tickets is totally unacceptable. It is a recipe for violent confrontation between drivers and officials on the road”

“A driver that spent several weeks inside park and Pregate with hunger and fatigue is a frustrated and aggressive driver. Blocking such a driver on the road at the right time of his movement by officials to pay money before accessing port roads despite having his valid Eto Ticket is an invitation of anarchy that could lead to ugly scenario because intimidation leads to aggression”

“As a responsible, peaceful and law abiding association, seeking to forestall any outbreak of violence between truckers and officials on the road, we have been cautioning our members to exercise patience in the face officials extortion on the road, that we are not relenting in our effort to resolve the problem through diplomatic engagement with higher authorities for peaceful and amicable resolution of the problems”

“We are a“ living testimony of the destructive outcome of “end Sars” protests in Lagos arising from harassment, intimidation and exploitation of public by law enforcement officials”

“If we cannot learn from past mistake, we are doomed to repeat such mistake. We can’t afford to have another round of vioIent protest in Apapa/Tincan against officials brutality, extortion and intimidation of our members” AMATO stated.

The foremost truck drivers association called on authorities to caution their officials against ‘using their uniform to promote lawlessness and unlawful activities that could jeopardize the aims and objectives of Eto system, and putting public lives, peace and property in Apapa at risk.

“If they cannot duly discharge their responsibilities with due diligence, they should be replaced with responsible officials before they create atmosphere of lawlessness and bloodshed.

“Most of Officers responsible for these ignoble acts on the roads have overstayed in the ports environment. Enough is enough!
We are calling on authorities to reduce the number of checkpoints in Apapa/Tincan logistics territory in the best interest of peace and traffic sanity” it says