Workers’ Day: AMATO Calls on FG to Decongest Lagos Ports, Commends Truckers Resilience
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has called on terminal operators and shipping companies to urgently accelerate the evacuation of containers from Nigerian port terminals, warning that persistent congestion is crippling logistics operations and driving up costs across the supply chain.
The call came in a Workers’ Day message signed by AMATO President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, who said the situation has continued to hamper port productivity, delay truck turnaround time, and impose severe financial burdens on truck owners and other logistics players.
“The persistent container congestion continues to hinder port productivity, delay truck turnaround time, and increase operational costs, thereby affecting the entire logistics value chain,” Ogungbemi stated.
AMATO’s intervention signals growing frustration among truck owners who bear the immediate brunt of terminal gridlock, spending extended hours queuing within and around port corridors while awaiting container releases that are often stalled by slow evacuation processes on the part of operators and shipping lines.
The association argued that swift action by terminal operators and shipping companies to decongest berths and yards would create a safer and more business-friendly environment for all port stakeholders, while significantly improving cargo dwell time and overall port efficiency.
Beyond the call on operators, AMATO used the occasion to commend the strong resolve of truck drivers and owners despite the challenges that has bedevilled the ports.
“AMATO proudly celebrates the dedication, resilience, and invaluable contributions of maritime truck owners, drivers, and all stakeholders whose daily efforts sustain port operations and facilitate national trade.
“We commend your unwavering commitment despite the numerous operational challenges within the maritime logistics environment. Your role remains critical to the efficiency of the supply chain and the economic growth of our nation” Ogungbemi stated.
The association also encouraged its members to leverage two internal initiatives, the AMATO Rescue Team and AMATO PAGO designed to provide emergency response support, reduce financial losses, and improve the ease of doing business for truck owners navigating an increasingly difficult operating environment.
The association stated that port congestion has remained a recurring flashpoint at Nigerian seaports, particularly in Lagos, where high import volumes, inadequate inland container depots, and logistical bottlenecks routinely combine to overwhelm terminal capacity and keep trucks idling for days.
