By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with other security and traffic management agencies, and stakeholders, will embark on total enforcement to rid Apapa Ports’ access roads of illegal toll collection points.

The measure followed concerns raised by the consortium of truck drivers under the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, regarding the assault of drivers, vandalism of trucks, and extortion along the Tincan-Apapa Corridor.

Meanwhile, the association of truckers have suspended an earlier planned strike action.

Speaking to the concerned truckers at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Annex Office in Marina, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa announced that the relevant authorities would commence raids from tomorrow (Tuesday) to rid the port corridors of miscreants and unauthorized personnel posing as traffic and security agents.

The Special Adviser condemned the acts of vandalism and extortion as acts of economic sabotage, stressing that under the 2018 State Transport Sector Reforms Law, the collection of tolls on Lagos roads is strictly prohibited.

He added that no union is authorized to levy any form of toll on truckers operating along the corridor.

Giwa assured truckers that all contentious issues would be addressed in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.

He commended the truckers for forming a unified front, which he said would facilitate dialogue and enhance coordination between the unions and truck operators.

Giwa added that the State Government, alongside the NPA and other relevant agencies, would provide the necessary resources and support to the committees established to ensure smooth operations for truckers.

He also urged members of the consortium to utilize the whistleblower app to report any illegal activities, noting that this would lend credibility to their claims, as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, would receive real-time evidence.

Similarly, the Special Adviser’s remarks, the representative of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Mr. Tijani Fatai, pledged the full support of the Nigerian Police Force, urging truckers to report incidents so that the challenges they face in the state can be decisively addressed.

At the end of the meeting, It was resolved that representatives and spokespersons from the Transport and Truckers’ Unions would meet regularly to develop actionable solutions to the issues raised by the unions.

Also, abrogation of toll collection from truckers servicing the ports and the Police ensuring total enforcement of collection of illegal tolls.

In attendance were key stakeholders, such as; management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Department of State Security, General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare Oki, Senior Special Assistant on Transportation and Logistics Mr. Adekoya Hassan, AMARTO Chairman, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle, and RTEAN Chairman Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji, among others.