By Joshua Yousouph
Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that over 60 per cent of trucks coming into the Lagos ports owned by private operators are increasingly struggling to keep their vehicles roadworthy, due to poor road infrastructure, multiple illegal charges, vandalism by hoodlums and intense operational pressures.
The operators, who spoke on the growing concern over the number of dilapidated trucks accessing the ports, insisted that while compliance with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) remains mandatory, external factors have made it increasingly difficult for many truck owners to sustain their vehicles in good condition.
Recall that last week, the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) issued an urgent advisory to all maritime haulage operators, mandating immediate compliance with basic vehicle safety requirements following reports of non-roadworthy trucks operating within the sector.
In an official notice directed at truck owners, fleet managers, and drivers, AMATO President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi expressed deep concern over the increasing number of heavy-duty vehicles operating without compliance with essential safety features, specifically functional headlamps, working rear lights, and reflective tapes.
A visit by Shipping Position Daily correspondent to the major Lagos ports access corridors last week observed that thousands of rickety trucks continue to ply the Apapa and Tin Can port routes despite existing safety regulations. Many of the trucks observed were operating with defective or missing headlamps, cracked or broken windscreens, damaged side mirrors, faulty brake lights, worn-out tyres and poorly secured container locking mechanisms, posing significant risks to other road users, cargoes and port operations.
Several of the vehicles were also seen emitting thick exhaust fumes, while others struggled to navigate the corridors due to obvious mechanical defects, yet still gained access to and exited the port gates.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the issue, the Secretary of AMATO, Bala Muhammed, said truck owners are expected to maintain functional headlamps, brake systems, reflector lights and other critical safety components, before being allowed to operate.
Muhammed disclosed that NPA inspects trucks before issuing its Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) stickers, stressing that trucks that fail the inspection are denied access. He noted that the exercise has encouraged many operators to upgrade their vehicles. However, he admitted that some trucks deteriorate after inspection due to circumstances beyond the control of their owners.
Beyond vehicle maintenance, Muhammed blamed the worsening condition of many trucks on the activities of hoodlums, illegal revenue collectors and multiple agencies operating along port access roads.
According to him, truck owners spend huge sums repairing damage caused by hoodlums, local government revenue collectors and transport union members who allegedly harass drivers and vandalise vehicles.
He alleged that windscreens are smashed, trucks are damaged and drivers intimidated whenever breakdowns occur, making it difficult for operators to channel resources into proper vehicle maintenance.
“We have trucks that meet the minimum safety standards, but before they return to the ports, something may have happened. Hoodlums may have vandalised them or some of the safety features may have been damaged on the road. The government is collecting outrageous charges from truckers, while hoodlums vandalise trucks on the roads. Area boys harass our drivers whenever trucks break down. Government needs to address these issues to complement our efforts at enforcing safety standards,” he said.
Corroborating his position, a truck owner; Mr. Kunle Ajayi identified poor roads as the biggest factor responsible for the deteriorating condition of trucks operating around Lagos ports. According to him, the rainy season further compounds the problem as road maintenance becomes difficult while heavy traffic prolongs vehicle exposure to damaged roads.
Ajayi also accused some law enforcement officers and other roadside operatives of damaging trucks during enforcement activities. He recalled an incident where a truck’s headlamp was allegedly smashed during an encounter with security personnel, only for another enforcement agency to impound the same truck for being un-roadworthy, because the headlamp had been broken.
He argued that such incidents impose additional financial burdens on operators already battling rising operating costs.
Ajayi further revealed that private truck owners account for between 60 and 65 per cent of trucks serving the ports, making them the dominant players in the haulage business. However, unlike large corporate transport companies, he said private operators lack the financial strength to promptly repair or replace damaged vehicles.
According to him, corporate logistics firms operate under structured maintenance systems, deploy recovery trucks whenever breakdowns occur and are less likely to be harassed on the roads.
Ajayi called on the government to prioritise rehabilitation of port access roads and eliminate illegal checkpoints and extortion along the corridors, insisting that these measures would significantly improve truck safety and reduce the number of rickety vehicles operating into the Lagos ports.
“If a corporate truck breaks down, they immediately bring another truck to tow it. Nobody disturbs them. But once they see our trucks, area boys, enforcement officers and others descend on us,” he lamented.
