• Help we have no where to park our trucks – AMATO
• Truck Owners Threaten Legal Action
Even as the enforcement of the directive to drivers of articulated trucks to quit the Apapa –Oshodi expressway gathers steam, there is anxiety among owners of the almost 60 trucks that have so for been seized by the Lagos state government’s task force.
Our correspondents confirmed yesterday from sources close to the team of security agents which has been on the matter since the early hours of Monday that there are at least 63 trucks in the custody of the state government.
Although there were conflicting reports as to whether the raid which led to the seizure of the trucks was carried out jointly by the Lagos state government officials and the presidential committee on port reforms, Shipping Position Daily confirmed that officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Kick Against Indiscipline,the Police Rapid Response Squad, a special task force and soldiers.
Sources close to the truck drivers gave the registration numbers of some of the impounded turcks as: XA871 PTG, XR 896 EPE, XG 152 JJJ, XY 896 MUS, XV 336 EPE, AM 848 FKA, XR 964 EPE. Others are XF 752 LSR, YD 190 FKJ, XL 387 FKG, XM 288 BDG, XA 288 EPE, XR 821 EPE and KY 966 XB.
One of the groups whose members lost their trucks; the Joint Council of Seaport Truckers (JCOST) alleged that more than 14 trucks belonging to its members were impounded by the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) at about 0115am of Sunday 6, 2012, even before the expiration of the ultimatum.
According to the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the General Secretary of JCOST, Mr. Godwin Ikeji, officials of the LASTMA broke into the popular ‘Abuja Park’ around the Tin Can 1st gate, Apapa and allegedly towed 15 trucks away.
But, the chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi told our correspondent that his members have removed their trucks away from Apapa, but alleged that security agents have gone as far as the inside of Ijora to fish-out the trucks for seizure.
He expressed fears over the fate of the seized trucks following the disclosure by the chairman of the presidential committee, Professor Sylvester Monye on Monday that any trucks that are seized would be crushed at a site already provided by the Lagos state government.
“We are considering going to court to stop them from being crushed, the decision to crush our truck is a rash one and we won’t just keep quiet”, he stressed.
He also solicited the support of all maritime industry stakeholders to prevail on the government to provide a truck terminal, because, according to him, since the security agents swooped on them in Ijora, there is no where else to park
The AMATO chairman’s appeal was corroborated by the leader of JCOST, Mr. Godwin Ikeji who also said that: “they have not taken us unaware, but the problem with us is the lack of holding bays where we can park and station our trucks before loading time. It was clear to us and we ask our members to keep their trucks off the road for the main time. But we are asking the government to look into the genesis of the matter which is the lack of holding bays and address it.”
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