Truckers On Collision Course with Customs Over Truck Impoundment, Seek Shippers’ Council Intervention

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), led by its President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, has raised serious concerns over the Nigerian Customs Service’s (NCS) practice of impounding and auctioning trucks used to transport containers suspected of containing contraband or improperly declared goods.

AMATO is now calling on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to intervene urgently in the matter.

In a statement, Chief Ogungbemi highlighted the plight of truck owners, who are often innocent third-party service providers contracted to haul containers cleared by importers and their agents.

Despite presenting valid documentation, these truckers find themselves caught in a web of culpability when Customs intercepts and impounds their vehicles.

“We are not privy to the assessment or examination procedures that verify the true nature of consignments. Unfortunately, when Customs intercepts cleared containers, our trucks—which are our sole means of livelihood—are impounded and often auctioned. This leaves us to bear the brunt of offences committed by importers and their agents,” Ogungbemi lamented.

He acknowledged the importance of Customs enforcing laws to prevent unlawful goods from entering the country, which could harm the economy and public safety. However, he decried the adverse effects of these impoundments on truck owners, many of whom have suffered premature deaths, strokes, or other severe health issues due to the financial losses incurred.

Ogungbemi also pointed out that in most cases, when Customs intercepts a truck, the importer or agent responsible for the illicit container absconds, leaving the truck owner to face the consequences alone.

To address these challenges, AMATO has outlined the following requests to the Shippers’ Council:

• Urgent Stakeholder Meeting: AMATO is urging the Shippers’ Council to convene an urgent meeting involving truckers, importers, clearing agents, and Customs to address the issue and prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods.

• Unconditional Release of Trucks: The association demands the immediate release of all impounded containerized trucks belonging to its members across all Customs Commands.

• Separation of Containers from Trucks: AMATO suggests that Customs should impound only the suspected containers while releasing the trucks.

In a more pointed recommendation, Ogungbemi called for Customs to apply the same impoundment rules to the ships and equipment used to transport and load the containers in question.

“If the law permits Customs to impound the means of conveyance, it should also extend to the ships that bring in these containers and the equipment used to load them, as they are accessories to the suspected contraband,” he said.

AMATO has expressed hope that the Shippers’ Council, as the economic regulator of ports, will act swiftly to mediate this crisis. According to the AMATO statement, truck owners are appealing for fair treatment and collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure that innocent parties are not penalized for offences beyond their control.

The association emphasized that resolving the issue is crucial to safeguarding the livelihoods of its members and maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s logistics and transport sector.