The National Executive Council of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations has condemned the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operations Committee for setting up illegal checkpoints along the Lagos port access corridor. This move is in defiance of a peace meeting convened by the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, Nigeria Police Force. The meeting aimed to address operational bottlenecks impacting port logistics and ensure free traffic flow.
The transport union, led by Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, expressed concern that despite agreements reached during the security meeting, LASTCOC operatives returned to the routes hours later, mounting roadblocks and resuming illegal toll collection and extortion of truckers. The union stated that this is a direct affront to the authority of the Commissioner of Police and a contempt of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the agreement, no union, association, or committee is permitted to conduct any business, mount checkpoints, or collect levies, tolls, or tickets on the port corridor. The corridor spans from Coconut, TinCan, Apapa to Mile 2 and from Ijora to Apapa port. However, LASTCOC operatives have disregarded this directive, leading to increased harassment of truckers and a potential breach of public peace.
The union outlined that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Nigerian Shippers' Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, and other Federal Government Agencies have condemned toll collection on the port access roads. Despite these condemnations and police directives, LASTCOC continues to collect tolls, indicating it is operating above the law.
COMTUA has warned its members and truckers not to allow themselves to be extorted, not to buy LASTCOC tickets, and not to pay any money at any illegal checkpoint. The union emphasized that every payment encourages further extortion and blockage of the road. The continuous extortion and blockage by LASTCOC may lead to a total breakdown of law and order and a breach of public peace on the port corridor.
The union called on security agencies to intervene immediately to avert a breakdown of law and order and protect economic activities around the nation's primary seaports. COMTUA urged the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, to enforce the resolutions of the meeting, disband all LASTCOC checkpoints on the port corridor, and arrest and prosecute those who have disobeyed his directive.
COMTUA remains committed to the peace and economic growth of the ports but will not allow any illegal committee to turn the port road into a toll gate. The union concluded that enough is enough and will take necessary actions to prevent further extortion and harassment of truckers along the Lagos port access corridor.
Key points
- The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations condemns LASTCOC's illegal checkpoints along the Lagos port access corridor.
- The union warns members and truckers not to pay any money at illegal checkpoints.
- COMTUA calls for immediate intervention by security agencies to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
