The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) have issued a stern warning to the Lagos State Government over alleged exploitative and arbitrary enforcement actions by the Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles and the Special Traffic Management Committee in Apapa.
The groups, collectively known as NMA, an acronym for the three groups, have threatened to withdraw their services if their demands are not met within three days.
The transport stakeholders who met at the Secretariat of the MWUN in Apapa on Monday, accused the two Lagos State Committees of deviating from their core mandate of easing traffic congestion. They alleged that the committees have instead resorted to indiscriminate truck arrests, extortion, and impounding of vehicles under false pretenses. They claimed that detained trucks are subjected to exorbitant fines ranging between N200,000 and N400,000, often paid into private accounts instead of government-designated accounts.
The groups cited a recent incident where trucks that were lawfully released from the Lillypond Pre-Gate under the authority of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) were intercepted by members of the two Committees. The trucks were forcibly turned back, while others were impounded and slammed with unregulated penalties. In some cases, committee officials allegedly commandeered trucks to private yards, later demanding additional towing fees from truck owners.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, a member of the Board of Trustees NMA, Mr. Leye Thompson noted a particularly troubling event that occurred on February 20, 2025, around the Area ‘B’ Police Command, Apapa, where truckers and stakeholders were reportedly attacked by committee members accompanied by street urchins. According to him, truckers who resisted illegal extortion attempts faced physical and verbal abuses, culminating in a severe assault on one driver who is now hospitalized. The matter is currently under investigation at the Area B Police Station.
Adding to their grievances, the transport groups revealed that on February 23, 2025, the Abandoned Vehicles Committee stormed Unity Bonded Terminal, impounding over 100 trucks queued for container drop-off and falsely labeling them as abandoned.
Speaking on the matter, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, expressed deep concern over the situation, describing it as “pathetic.” He lamented that the cost of doing business in the port environment had been hijacked by non-state actors who exploit truckers through arbitrary enforcement measures.
Adeyanju called for immediate intervention from the Lagos State Government, warning that failure to address the grievances within the three-day ultimatum would lead to widespread solidarity action from MWUN. “If after three days nothing is done, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the two port managers, and other respected stakeholders must wake up and correct the wrongs that are crippling transport operations in our ports,” he stated.
He emphasized that the maritime sector operates as an interconnected system, and the welfare of truckers directly impacts all stakeholders, including MWUN members. “Some of our members are truckers, and they too are affected by these oppressive policies. We will not sit back while our people are subjected to extortion and violence under the guise of traffic management”, he warned.
Adeyanju also criticized the violent attacks on truck drivers, particularly the recent assault that left one driver hospitalized. “The Lagos State Government never authorized anyone to assault or kill people. If this injustice continues, we will raise our voices louder and take decisive action. We are all stakeholders, and we refuse to allow these abuses to continue unchecked.”
In response to these grievances, the groups are making two key demands: The immediate disbandment of the two Lagos State Committees and the unconditional release of all impounded trucks. The associations have given the Lagos State Government a three-day ultimatum, expiring on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to meet their demands. Failure to comply, they warn, will result in an indefinite withdrawal of their services across the state, which could severely impact cargo movement and port operations.
The transport groups call on relevant authorities, including the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority, to intervene and restore order to the sector.
