The Council of Maritime Truck Associations and Unions (COMTUA) recently organized a significant protest in Lagos port corridors, highlighting concerns over the resurgence of extortion by various actors in the port area. This demonstration resulted in partial disruptions of cargo clearance activities, urging authorities to take immediate action against the ongoing extortion issues.
COMTUA’s President, Comrade Yinka Aroyewun, emphasized that the protest was a reaction to the ongoing financial strain caused by extortion, which adversely affects truckers’ livelihoods and hinders efficient port operations. Aroyewun detailed the challenges posed by both state and non-state actors, linking them directly to the industry’s inefficiencies and corruption.
A major point of contention for COMTUA is the electronic call-up system known as ‘ETO’, along with its operator, Truck Transit Park (TTP). Aroyewun accused this system of imposing double taxation on truckers, leading to job losses and unfair practices favoring certain military and private vehicles. He demanded the immediate abolition of the ETO system and its operators, asserting that it exacerbates the troubles faced by truckers.
In his criticism, Aroyewun pointed to the inappropriate presence of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) security personnel beyond their designated jurisdictions as a significant factor in the ongoing extortion. He called for the government to ensure strict adherence to jurisdictional boundaries, limiting NPA personnel to the ports themselves.
Additionally, COMTUA challenged the compulsory payment for call-up services through TTP, stating that truckers were never part of any agreement between NPA and TTP. The union insists that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council should be responsible for determining charges, rather than allowing the NPA to delegate this responsibility to third-party operators.
The protest highlights the growing frustration among maritime truckers regarding operational inefficiencies and the alleged corruption permeating the port logistics chain. If their grievances regarding extortion and the handling of port operations are not adequately addressed, the discontent among truckers is likely to escalate further, potentially compromising the effectiveness of cargo operations in the region.
