Rilwan Bello (Vice President, NAMTOP)
We already know those that have genuine purpose for the industry and those that are doing it for selfish interest. We already know the association that has good people with good intentions. If you look at the caliber of people in NAMTOP, they do not have questionable character. We are only interested in the seamless evacuation of cargoes. All those other ones that are trying to ‘dualize’ a well-recognized association are just doing it for personal interests. Everything still revolves round sincerity of purpose. The only way those trying to keep up an association for personal gains is to desist and follow the real people that are after clearing of the gridlock and want the proper thing to be done at the ports.
Aloga Ogbogo (NARTO Chieftain)
As far as I know, there is no disunity among NARTO. NARTO is intact and MWUN is intact. The disunity and splitter groups must be from NAMTOP. These are the three groups that make up the collaboration. If a splitter group that is supposed to protect the interest of truckers start aligning with the Lagos State government to extort money from truckers, then how do you access that situation?
Many of the associations are not run according to the standards where some have life Chairman or Presidents without election. These associations should be regulated by the government to know their activities. Members of the associations need to sit up, unite and do the right thing by fighting for the interest of the collective body. That is the only way out.
Taiwo Fatomilola (National PRO, AREFFN)
Our disunity and divided purpose has been the greatest problem we have in the maritime industry, so I am not surprised that it is also prevalent amongst the trucking associations. Our disunity in the maritime industry has been our greatest undoing. However, once their means of livelihood is finally taken away from them, they will be forced to unite and fight for a common goal to salvage their collective business instead of personal interests.
Raji Adesina (NAMTOP Chieftain)
We are together now. All the trucking associations are together under the body of LASTCOC. But you know in a family, not all the siblings might like each other. You cannot get 100 percent from everybody, due to different ideologies and perspectives. Your mentality can be different from mine. We have people that have the same mindset and others who think the other way and you cannot blame them, so far we have freedom of speech and expression. We are okay, we are in one collaboration and at the same time, we cannot compel them to do what we want. But we have a majority and that settles it. We do not have any issues.
Clinton Okoro (APFFLON PRO, Tin Can Chapter)
The issue of disunity amongst associations is one of the major challenges that we have in the industry, especially the leaders. They are the ones that create these problems. They do not really fight for the interest of their members, but go after personal or selfish interests. The only way it can be addressed is to create a common front for the associations to unite and tackle their peculiar concerns and challenges and not fight against themselves, because of clash of interests.
Bala Muhammed (Administrative Secretary, AMATO)
In every unity, there must be conflict or opposites. Of course, the division is between the forces of orderliness and the forces of disorderliness. We believe in orderliness and sanity, while others believe that revenue can only be achieved through cutting corners. They believe progress can only be achieved through insulting and confronting authorities causing all sorts of chaos. We believe in dialogue and peaceful approach to solving issues, while some people believe if you don’t insult, lampoon and blackmail, there is no way progress can be achieved. So, that is the line of difference between them and us. For us, we believe in peaceful and amicable reconciliation of issues and challenges affecting transporters in relation with the government and other stakeholders in the industries.
