Stakeholders in the Nigeria maritime sector are divided over on-going moves by the Lagos state government; through the State’s House of Assembly to regulate movement of container-laden trucks in the state.
While many commended the move as long expected and one that is capable of tackling the debilitating traffic that the trucks cause, others declared their opposition to it, saying that it would have a negative effect on cargo delivery in the ports.
Stakeholders in the Nigeria maritime sector are divided over on-going moves by the Lagos state government; through the State’s House of Assembly to regulate movement of container-laden trucks in the state.
While many commended the move as long expected and one that is capable of tackling the debilitating traffic that the trucks cause, others declared their opposition to it, saying that it would have a negative effect on cargo delivery in the ports.
Chairman, Tin Can Island Port chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Kayode Farinto, said that the proposed restriction will create congestion at the port and also hinder effective port operation.
Farinto said in Lagos last week that he had written to the state legislature not to pass the bill into law.
Also speaking on the issue, Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said that in addition to causing congestion at the ports, the new measure will also increase the rate of accidents on the road.
"The drivers will suffer from fatigue as a result of loading in the daytime and driving at night. The danger is that such fatigue will lead to increased rates of accidents. This is in addition to creating congestion at the port", Ogungbemi stated.
Speaking in the same manner, a chieftain of Road Transport Employers Association on Nigeria, Comrade Sylvester Keshiro said that the proposed law is self serving and lacking consideration for Lagosians
“From all indications, it seems that they are only trying to please the Governor‘s administration, because I do not see how such a thing will work. The port, for instance will experience congestion of containers and they said the movement of these trucks will be from 7pm to 6 am when we all know that the street urchins cannot be controlled, in other words it will lead to high rate of robbery on the road at night, containers will be seized and hijacked by these thugs, accident will increase on the Lagos roads, there will be delay in the distributive chain of goods nationwide”, he stressed.
“For example, trucks coming from Kaduna, Kano to load containers from the ports and there is restriction of movement then the big question will be what time will they load and when will they carry their goods back to their states”, he asked, even as he lampooned the lawmakers for not carrying stakeholders along
But, the Sole Administrator of Institute of Transport Administration, Nigeria, Prince Don Aki expressed total support for the proposed law.
“I am in total support of the restriction of container trucks on Lagos roads because it is a way to sensitize the drivers of the vehicles. I must say that this policy will bring about orderliness on the movement of such trucks in and out of the state”, he stated.
His position was also supported by another stakeholder, Mr Patrick Onyegbule, who works with Sapid Agencies as the Terminal Manager.
Similarly, the registrar of Port and Terminal Management Academy (POTEMAN), Dr Samuel Babatunde threw his weight behind it, saying it will not have any negative effect. “I don’t think this plan will have any side effect; because for example, there is a plan by the Lagos State Government in conjunction with a consultant to introduce e-tag movement, this is to regulate, control and manage the movement of trucks in and out of Lagos”, he posited.
Section 3(2) of the Bill, imposes a fine of N50, 000 or six months imprisonment or both on any driver found contravening it, in addition to having his vehicle impounded.
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