TIN CAN PORT ATTACK: Lagos Task Team Lied, Says Union Leader

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Lagos State Chairman, Haulage Unit of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Taofeek Abiodun has debunked reports of attack on the Task Team constituted by the Lagos State Government, saying that the team lied and gave a false narrative to the media.

The task team comprises the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Police.

The narrative earlier sponsored in the media was that hoodlums disrupted the task team from clearing the Tin Can Port corridor of traffic gridlock and attempted to snatch riffle from an army officer.

However, in a chat with DAILY TREND on Wednesday, Comrade Taofeek, popularly known as Tao, set the record straight, saying that the task team had visited the Tin Can Port with an intention to impound trucks that were about to enter into the port after one month on queue.

Giving a detailed account of what transpired, Comrade Taofeek said “When the Lagos Task Team
came yesterday, they wanted to impound all the trucks that are trying to access the port gate, they came with Army, LASTMA and Police.

“We tried explaining to them that most of these vehicles have been on the queue from Mile-2 to Tin Can Port seeking entrance into the port for the past one month, they all have their necessary documentation to access the port.

“I came out to plead with them on behalf of the drivers, I am a Chairman of MWUN in Lagos State, and I also own trucks.

“In the process of our pleading with the Task Team, they started shooting at us and firing teargas at us. I was trying to tell them not to fire gunshots around the port, there are truckers scattered around, so that they don’t aggravate them.

“As they were firing at us, we had to get something as shield. The port is an international port, police and army should not be coming around to fire gunshot at will.

“The face-off could have led to breakdown of law and order and a free for all, if not for my intervention, I pleaded with the truck drivers not to retaliate and this is why my name is being mentioned.

“One of the LASTMA officials lost his handset in the middle of the fracas, I told them to the phone to Tin Can Police station for him.

“These police officers that came with the Task Team failed to carry along the port police, they were not aware of their operations.
The report that someone wanted to snatch riffle is false news, and there was no petrol poured on anyone.

“The army even took away one of our members. These Task Team members are involved in cargo haulage, not container haulage like us”

Our correspondent reports that the Lagos Task Team had since Monday embarked on a clean-up exercise to open-up inbound section of the Tincan Port access road that has been clogged to road users as part of efforts to ensure free flow of traffic, enhance trade facilitation and seamless evacuation of cargoes from Tincan Port.