The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) first came into limelight about two years ago, when its birth was announced by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association (ACTOA), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (COTOAN) and Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).
The body, at inception pride itself as the vehicle for all major transport-related unions and associations operating in Lagos ports. This is arguable, considering the calibre of groups in the ‘marriage’.
Its first president was Mr Olaleye Thompson while the duo of Mr Ogbogo Aloga of NARTO and Comrade Adewale Adeyanju of MWUN were the Chairman and Co – Chairman, respectively of the COMTUA Board of Trustees.
But, towards the end of 2021, the mantle of leadership fell on Mr Yinka Aroyewun, who has since left no one in doubt about his style of leadership.
Yes, since he came to power as president of COMTUA, he has been literally spitting fire, kicking all obstacles, and confronting agents of extortion, especially along the ports corridors.
It is on record that, the group has written series of petitions to the Lagos state government, the hierarchy of the Police, the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC). Aroyewun has also visited these agencies, preaching orderliness and elimination of corruption and extortion on the approaches to Lagos ports.
It is perhaps the urge to seek further help that led the Yinka Aroyewun-led executives to seek the collaboration of the dreaded Yoruba separatist group; the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).
It is on record that, while on a visit to the leader of the OPC; Chief Gani Adams in January this year, the COMTUA President in the company of leaders of his group, sought the partnership of the OPC.
Gani Adams offered COMTUA the services of South-West Stakeholders Security Group (SWSSG) for protection of COMTUA members and their businesses. The South-West Stakeholders Security Group is an arm of the OPC. In fact, it is populated by OPC members.
The COMTUA President told Chief Gani Adams that many of his members have become bankrupt as a result of hoodlums who hijack containers on the highways and beat-up truck drivers carrying the consignments.
According to the COMTUA President, “containers coming from the ports are being hijacked by hoodlums on the road, our drivers are sometimes beaten up by hoodlums when they refuse to path away with money, we need your assistance in the area of security of our trucks and consignment”.
The COMTUA leadership consequently urged Gani Adams to use his good office to protect its members from running out of business as a result of the nefarious activities of the hoodlums and touts who constantly attack and extort drivers of container-laden trucks.
Responding, the OPC leader assured his guests that he will rise to the occasion to ensure security of COMTUA trucks and consignments.
Giving credence to the inseparability of the OPC and the South-West Stakeholders Security Group, Gani Adams assured the COMTUA leadership that a private security guard will be provided for them that will protect their consignments from hoodlums.
And to give a boost to the new relationship, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between COMTUA and the OPC. This happened a few weeks ago, albeit quietly.
Expectedly, a cross-section of stakeholders has already come out against it, while others have also expressed shock at the development. They include: National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).
Even though it claimed that its marriage to OPC was meant to complement efforts of security operatives outside the ports and on the highways, this is one alliance that may snowball into chaos, unless it is stopped before it matures.
This is a convenient point to call the leadership of COMTUA to order. It may be appropriate to appraise its relationship and its modus operandi in the maritime industry.
All may not be well with the group at the moment. Its notable founding fathers have left the fold. First to leave was the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and not long after, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners also announced its exit. The COMTUA has also lost the membership of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria. Coincidentally, these three bodies control the highest number of persons and trucks in the Nigerian maritime industry.
Read Also: Do you think the invitation of the OPC by COMTUA into the port corridors is justifiable?
The rationale for creating the previously all-embracing COMTUA is gradually being eroded. It appears like all major road haulage practitioners have abandoned the group. It may not necessarily mean that this is because the group is doing badly. It may however be that is approaching it the wrong way.
However, one thing is certain in the campaign that COMTUA has been launching, that is to tackle extortion on the port corridors. But, inviting the OPC under any guise will be counter-productive. The elements who populate the OPC are the same persons in the security outfit that the OPC leader is collaborating with COMTUA to unleash on the ports environs.
It is the statutory responsibility of the government at all levels to secure lives, property and businesses of its people. There are sufficient number of government agencies in the ports and their environs to take up the responsibility of security. It is not the duty of any quasi-security units by whatever name, to secure any part of the nation.
If the worry of COMTUA is about extortion and harassment of its members, may we then ask: Are other truckers not subjected to this same treatment.
Inviting non-state actors to provide security is a prelude to chaos. The OPC is notorious for violence, intimidation and extra-judicial actions. Bringing the outfit or its security arm will not reduce corruption, rather it will further crudely militarize an economic zone like Apapa.
It is our opinion that, COMTUA should continue to seek alliance and collaboration with state actors, and immediately jettison its MoU with the OPC, forthwith.
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