Why Shippers Council Should Expand the Scope of PSTT

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector have called on the management of Nigerian Shippers Council under the leadership of Hon Emmanuel Jime, to expand the scope of the Presidential Task Team (PSTT) to cover areas like Mile-2 and Second-Rainbow bus stop along Apapa Oshodi expressway which has become volatile and impassable for port users due to activities of hoodlums.

There is also an urgent need to increase the membership of the PSTT, create more empowerment for it’s existing officials, and bring more organizations onboard to improve on its performance.

Reports gathered by DAILY TREND states that men of the underworld take advantage of the bad roads and ongoing construction along that axis to consistently and usually unleash attack on port users after the close of work.

There are reports of attacks at night, where hoodlums rob port users of their valuables around Mile 2 and Second Rainbow bus stops, and sometimes attacking others physically.

The hoodlums and traffic robbers also extort truck drivers who are trapped in traffic, making their way into and out of the ports, and often demand all formes of illegal collections.

These bad elements have also become so emboldened that, during the day time, they waylay imported vehicles coming out of the port and collect un-receipted monies.

Based on the forgoing, the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju recently called on the Executive Secretary of Shippers Council, Hon Emmanuel Jime to look into giving more responsibility to the PSTT to extend it’s operations to these troubled areas.

Already, the PSTT under the energetic leadership of Comrade Moses Fadipe has dislodged the Nigerian Ports of shanties, hoodlums and stopped all illegal collections and tolls along the port.

However, there are indications that the perpetrators of these crimes have now found a new haven, farther from the port area, and are taking advantage of the bad roads.

Speaking at a recent joint press conference with National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Comrade Adeyanju said both bodies would work with the PSTT and provide them more information about these challenges and how to solve them.

“This collaboration would work hand in hand with the Port Standing Task Team, headed by Comrade Fadipe, NARTO, MWUN are members of that body, we would share our experiences with them in due course.

“The 2nd Rainbow and Mile 2 axis is a nightmare, you cannot pass through that road at night. These elements are enjoying what is going on now because of the bad roads, this is why you see all these illegal collections going on.

“I believe that if the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) can do the right thing at the right time by way of talking to the contractor in charge of the access road, the better for all port users.

“That is where the bad elements are coming out from everyday, you cannot pass through there by 9pm, it’s either they attack you or rob you, and this is what we all experience while passing through that road.

“We are using this medium to urge the Nigerian Shippers Council to extend it’s tentacles to MWUN and NARTO so that we can be on the same page” he said

Speaking in the same vein, Secretary General of NARTO, Mr Aloga Ogbogo stated that the ongoing working collaboration between MWUN and NARTO does not cover activities outside the port area. He however said both bodies are willing to support the PSTT.

“We are meant to take care of the interest of our members, while Regulatory function are left for regulatory bodies. However, wherever it affects our businesses, we would always come out to say something.
We need to create more recognition or expand the scope of the PSTT” Ogbogo stated.