Container Truck Owners Protest N150,000 Towing Charges By Lagos Government

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (ACTOAN) has accused the Lagos State Towing officials of slamming
outrageous, non-receipted bills and fines on truck owners under the pretext of removing broken down trucks from the roads.

In letter addressed to Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on 15th November, signed by Mr Ridwan Bello for the group, they alleged that the state actors collect as high as N150,000 and above for towing a broken down truck between the distance of 200 to 1000 metre from the road.

The truckers lamented that these actions is killing the ease of business at the port and that truckers can no longer sustain their businesses.

ACTOAN has now called on Sanwo-Olu to allow truckers make use of private towing operators, whose charges according to them is very friendly to business.

“Imposing a bill 150K and above by towing operators for towing a broken down truck between the distance of 200 to 1000 metre from the road is not only outrageous, lacking human face but injurious to the survival of our business

“Contrast to the outrageous charge of the Lagos State Towing actors, the services of Private Towing Truck Operators are very moderate and where we engage the service of Private Towing Operators, the State Actors in most cases prevent them from removing our break down trucks, even if our private tow truck is parking beside our broken down truck.

“Sincerely, we agreed totally that any truck that breakdown must be immediately removed, lest it impede traffic or cause accident that claim life or property. But the rate at which the State Actors hunt for breakdown trucks is more than how Hawks hunt for Chickens to catch and it is having a serious adverse effect on our business.

“OUR PRAYERS
We look forward to the approval of our request by the Lagos State Government as we have devised a quick and seamless method of removing our broken down trucks by ourselves from the road without rancour and much stress, just as stated in our previous letter that we are fully ready to commence the exercise by ourselves in collaboration with the body of Towing Truck Association.

“In conclusion, we once again, reiterate our loyalty and support in ensuring better and peaceful inter-relationship with the State Ministry of Transportation” the letter reads in part.