Despite recent efforts by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Government to clear the Mile-2 to Tin Can Island Port access road, new extortion points have emerged, causing significant disruptions for truck drivers and hampering cargo evacuation from the ports.
Alhaji Lukman Shittu Zangalo, Chairman of the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), raised these concerns at the Anchor of Nigerian Ports Conference at Rockview Hotel, Apapa.
Zangalo, who received an award at the event, reported that new extortion rings involve officials of the Nigerian Police, NPA, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and hoodlums using intimidation and violence to extort money from truck drivers.
Although Zangalo acknowledged the improvement from the road clean-up, he criticized the NPA Electronic Call-Up system (ETO), claiming it now fosters favoritism and is now ineffective.
He emphasized that despite past progress, current conditions on the road remain problematic.
“While we have seen improvements with the road’s sanitation, ongoing challenges persist,” Zangalo said. “Drivers are still facing delays and extortion, and the ETO system, which was supposed to streamline operations, is failing to deliver as promised.”
Zangalo detailed LASTCOC’s role in improving road conditions and ensuring compliance with regulations. “Our committee played a crucial role in clearing the Tin Can road, and we communicated with our members to remove trucks from the road, facilitating the subsequent clean-up efforts by the NPA and LASTMA.”
Despite these achievements, Zangalo called for continued vigilance and better oversight to maintain the progress. He criticized the proliferation of checkpoints and illegal payments, stressing that funds collected from truck drivers often benefit individuals, rather than government authorities.
“The focus now must be on resolving these ongoing issues and ensuring that the ETO system is reformed to meet its intended goals. Our committee remains committed to finding solutions and improving conditions for truckers across Lagos State,” Zangalo concluded.
