Oluyinka Onigbinde
The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) including relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry have condemned the planned action of the Council of Maritime Truck Union and Associations (COMTUA) to engage the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as a security outfit along the port corridor.
The stakeholders, while kicking against it, also said the OPC does not have the constitutional authority to act as security along the port access road.
Their reactions came on the heels of the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between COMTUA and the OPC.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, and leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, Chief Gani Adams had at the occasion, promised to rescue COMTUA from extortion which has put the business activities of its members under threat.
However, reacting to the development, the Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi stated that the action is counterproductive, as he noted that the security of lives and properties is vested in the care of the Nigerian Police.
He alleged that some members of the COMTUA that is engaging OPC as a result of extortion and harassment, also align with those they alleged are extorting them. Chief Ogungbemi adding that many COMTUA members were extortionists before they repented.
Making a mockery of the MoU with OPC, Ogungbemi urged COMTUA to also seek the help of Eastern Security Network (ESN), Amotekun, IPOB or Boko Haram if they see need to fortify themselves.
He said: “I will not subscribe to a situation whereby somebody will go and align with OPC, I will say it can be counterproductive, because the security of life and property is vested in the Police, not OPC “.
“Again I am concerned because the very people shouting, some of them also align and collaborate with the people that are extorting, and some of them were part of the extortionist before, maybe they might have repented.
“They have even taught those people that are extorting now how to extort to the extent that they have perfected it more than the ones that taught them, so I will not subscribe to a situation whereby anyone will go and join, align or sign MoU with OPC”.
According to him, “as far as AMATO is concerned, we are comfortable with activities of Police. We will not do anything outside the police.
Also speaking, the executive secretary of the NARTO, Mr. Aloga Ogbogo lampooned COMTUA over the planned engagement; he said the move is out of context, questioning the capacity COMTUA has to engage the OPC members.
He told our correspondent that: “I am not aware of this if they have done that, that is out of context, because in what capacity have they gone to engage the service of OPC”
“Legally, does OPC have that capacity, are they coming in as law enforcement agents, because I don’t know, they want to come to the port corridor that is so sensitive, for me it’s out of context.
“If they say people are extorting them, who are the people extorting them, we have the Nigeria Port Police, we have the Area ‘B’ Command Police, we have the Lagos State Police commissioner, why didn’t they address the issue to the appropriate quarters, for me, I believe it’s out of place,” he said.
Also speaking to our correspondent a freight forwarder operating at the Tin Can Island port, Mr Segun Busari, condemned the decision stating that COMTUA is chewing more than it can swallow.
“I am not aware of this, but if this is true then the association is chewing more than they can swallow
“Who are they to engage OPC to come to the port corridor, we do things because we believe Nigeria is a lawless country, so they will bring OPC to the port, before you know it our Igbo brothers will also bring in IPOB or ESN, what’s all this, it is totally absurd.
“If like you said, it is as a result of extortion and harassment let them engage the Police, we won’t fold our hands and watch this happen, because when given the opportunity, they will also want to make their money and this will also add to the cost of doing business” he said.
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However, reacting to the criticisms, President of COMTUA, Comrade Adeyinka Aroyewun explained that COMTUA only engaged a private security outfit owned by Gani Adams called ‘Zeus Eye Security Limited’ to protect its members from constant extortion and harassment.
He alleged that members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), including some agents of the local government have continued to harass and extort members of COMTUA despite several letters written to the police against the illegality and criminal activities of the unions
He said COMTUA members will no longer fold hands to allow hoodlums to undermine their business, adding that its members have resolved to stand in the protection of their businesses, alleging that the police and other agencies of government are standing with illegality.
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