Maritime Transporters Threaten Strike Over Alleged N400,000 Extortion in Lagos
Maritime Transporters Threaten Strike Over Alleged N400,000 Extortion in Lagos
A coalition of maritime transport operators, including the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government, demanding the immediate disbandment of two committees over alleged extortion and harassment of truck operators.
Known collectively as NMA (representing the initials of the three unions), the coalition sent a notice of service withdrawal to key authorities, including the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Lagos State Governor, and the Port Authority Police Command.
In a statement made available, NMA condemned the Lagos State Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles and the Special Traffic Management Committee and Enforcement Team for their “increasingly provocative and exploitative activities.”
According to the transport operators, these committees, originally established to ease traffic congestion around Lagos ports, have instead resorted to arbitrary arrests and excessive penalties, charging between N200,000 and N400,000 per truck.
Adding to the crisis, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day notice for industrial action over unpaid bridging claims and the seizure of 16 drivers and 20 fuel trucks. If unresolved, this could lead to nationwide fuel scarcity.
NMA further alleged that payments were being funneled into private accounts instead of government coffers. The coalition cited a recent incident where trucks released from the Lillypond Pre-gate by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were later intercepted and impounded by committee members.
Some truck operators reportedly paid exorbitant fees to retrieve their vehicles, while others had their trucks towed to undisclosed locations at additional costs.
The maritime transport operators’ ultimatum, set to expire tomorrow, demands the immediate disbandment of the Lagos State committees in question and the unconditional release of all impounded trucks. Failure to meet these demands, they warned, would result in an indefinite industrial action.
Meanwhile, IPMAN has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent a fuel crisis, as unresolved debts of over N100 billion continue to cripple fuel distribution across the country.
Speaking on the matter, IPMAN Depot Forum Chairman, Yahaya Alhassan, lamented the prolonged non-payment of bridging and National Transportation Allowance (NTA) claims by the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“One of those promises was made by NMDPRA at a stakeholders’ meeting convened on the eve of the last strike declared by NARTO. At that meeting, NARTO listed these same IPMAN bridging claims as part of their demands before the strike was called off. NMDPRA promised to offset the bridging claims in 40 days even in the presence of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of DSS, Adeola Ajayi. However, 40 days have today become months with no hope of our payment,” he said.
The crisis has already affected operations at major fuel depots in the North, including those in Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola and Maiduguri.
National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, warned that loading operations would remain on hold unless the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Transportation engage with the unions and release the arrested trucks and drivers.
“They have towed about 20 trucks, some are empty, some with fuel. They have arrested about 16 drivers. They kept them at Oshodi. So, in solidarity with other drivers and truck owners, we have withdrawn our services and would like the governor himself to intervene, because the task force of the Ministry of Transport in Lagos is harassing us,” he said.
Read also: NMDPRA Bans Overloaded Petrol Trucks to Curb Explosions, Sets New Limits
Meanwhile, some fuel stations around Egbe, Isolo, and Egbeda in Lagos have already begun experiencing shortages.
Responding to the allegations, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, stated that enforcement of the e-call-up system began on January 24, 2025, with initial leniency shown to truck operators. However, on February 21, 2025, 11 more trucks were apprehended for non-compliance, leading to an attack on enforcement officers.
She emphasized that the state government has since released both the trucks and arrested individuals, signaling its commitment to fair enforcement.
As the deadline for the ultimatum approaches, the country faces the risk of both a transportation crisis and a looming fuel scarcity, with maritime operators and fuel marketers standing firm in their demands.
