The Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) as well as others road haulage stakeholders have raised alarm that the unchecked activities of hoodlums in the Apapa-Ijora and Tin Can-Mile 2 areas of the port’ access roads in Lagos result in the loss of over 40 lives annually and billions of Naira in revenue.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that these criminals, commonly referred to as “area boys,” have created a dangerous environment for truck drivers, significantly impacting the trucking business and the nation’s economy.
The menace of hoodlums in these areas is not a new phenomenon. For years, truck drivers have faced constant harassment and extortion from them.
In a chat with our correspondent, Aloga Ogbogo, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), paints a grim picture of the daily ordeal faced by truck drivers.
“As you approach them, they get on the truck, start attacking you, asking for money, distracting you. Sometimes they even go ahead to pull the gasoline supply to the trucks to ensure that the truck comes to a standstill. When that happens, it causes unnecessary hold-ups, because the truck blocks the road,” he explained.
He said the violence and intimidation tactics often employed by these hoodlums usually escalate to physical assaults with the drivers are beaten-up, trucks vandalized, and valuable cargo sometimes stolen.
“They break the windscreen of the truck, attack the driver, bring the vehicle to a halt. Most of these activities are negatively impacting trucking business and the drivers,” Ogbogo emphasizes.
Speaking further, he said “the result is not only a disruption of logistics and supply chains but also a significant financial burden on truck owners who must repair damaged vehicles and compensate injured drivers. The human cost of this lawlessness is devastating.”
According to Ogbogo, the death toll among truck drivers due to these hoodlum activities is alarmingly high.
Speaking on the fatalities, he explained that, “on average, we counted close to about 40 to 45 drivers. Some die instantly, while others succumb to their injuries later. The ones that die instantly were close to about 20 to 25. Then, there are those who go to the hospital and subsequently die”.
He lamented that these numbers reflect only a portion of the true toll, as many incidents go unreported due to the lack of proper documentation and attacks on the drivers.
He added that the psychological impact on the drivers who survive these attacks is profound as they live in constant fear of being assaulted or killed on the job, which takes a toll on their mental health and overall well-being.
Ogbogo further lamented that many drivers suffer from anxiety and stress, knowing that each trip could be their last, with the ripple effect extending to their families, who must cope with the loss or incapacitation of their primary breadwinners. This, in-turn, he said affects the larger community and economy, as the loss of skilled labour disrupts productivity and economic stability.
“The economic implications of this ongoing crisis are substantial. The trucking industry plays a vital role in Nigeria’s economy, facilitating the movement of goods and services across the country and beyond. However, the activities of hoodlums in Apapa-Ijora and Tin Can-Mile 2 significantly hinder this process” he lamented.
He said despite the severe impact on lives and the economy, efforts to curb the menace of hoodlums have been largely ineffective.
He noted that the presence of security agencies in these areas has not deterred the criminals, who continue to operate with impunity.
Specifically, he alleged that: “These things are happening not too far from Area ‘B’ police station, yet nobody is saying anything. It’s not a good development for the trucking business
“We use this opportunity to call on law enforcement agencies to do the needful and clear these ‘area boys’ from the port corridor,” Ogbogo urges.
Also speaking on the issue, Mohammed Sanni Bala, General Secretary of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) highlighted the financial impact. He said, “the activities of these hoodlums who seem to be working for some of these enforcement officers are over-killing. Just last month, precisely on June 1st, in the Mile 2 axis, hoodlums fell a truck and container, leading to the death of the driver. So far, on average this year, two deaths of our drivers have been recorded.”
Speaking also, Stephen Okafor, the General Manager of Operations at NARTO noted that the extortion by these criminals translates to unbudgeted expenses for truck owners. He estimates that these nefarious activities contribute to about 10% to 15% of their overhead costs daily.
“If the driver pays, he will indirectly collect the same money from the truck owner. It is affecting our business,” he explains.
He explained that the cumulative financial loss runs into billions annually, affecting not only the transport sector, but also the broader economy.
“The need for a coordinated and sustained response from law enforcement and government authorities is critical. The port corridors are not just local transport routes; they are vital economic arteries that impact Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Effective security measures are essential to ensure the safety of drivers and the smooth operation of the trucking business.
“The removal of these hoodlums would not only protect lives and property but also enhance Nigeria’s international image.
Mr Cornelius Chiwendu, a stakeholder in the transport sector, underscores the magnitude of the problem: “The loss as a result of these hoodlums runs into billions yearly. I may not be able to give exact figures, but we are talking about multi-millions if not billions of Naira, and the number of deaths may not be ascertained, but on average yearly, within Apapa and Tin Can, you may have over 20 in a year, caused as a result of non-state actors.
“The human cost, in terms of lives lost and the psychological trauma inflicted on survivors, is immeasurable. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort from law enforcement, government authorities, and the community. Only through a sustained and coordinated response can the safety of truck drivers be ensured, the economic stability of the transport sector be restored, and Nigeria’s image as a reliable and secure transport hub be upheld” he said.
