The Nigerian Navy has commenced investigations into the activities of its personnel who were drafted to control traffic at the peak of the gridlock in Apapa. The officers were accused of extorting truck drivers
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Federal Government had stopped personnel of the Navy and other military formation from controlling traffic along the two approaches to Lagos ports to pave way for the Task Team headed by Mr Kayode Opeifa, a former commissioner for transport in Lagos.
The truck drivers had accused the naval officers and other security agents of collecting as much as N70, 000 from them for each truck before such trucks are allowed access into the ports. Upon the Federal Government directives, the truckers lauded it as a welcome development as they said extortion of truckers have stopped, a development which prompted the Nigerian Navy to set up an investigation panel to probe all officers involved.
Speaking to Shipping Position Daily exclusively last week, a source confirmed that indeed, investigation into the alleged extortion has begun.
He confirmed being invited to by the Navy for insight into what actually transpired when men of the Navy were involved in the control of Apapa traffic.
The Navy has also confirmed the investigations, even it is still been kept under wraps.
In a telephone chat with the Information Officer, Western Naval Command; Lt-Com Otuji confirmed that investigation has begun and that the outcome will soon be made known.
“Wait for the outcome, they just began the investigation, mind you, it’s still an allegation, so you don’t say, officers that extort, when the panel finish their investigation you will get the outcome, he said.”
Also confirming the probe, the Lagos State Vice-President, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Dry Cargo Section; Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammad-Inuwa, hinted that he had also been invited.
“We have gone to make to make our testimony of what happened and this is to show that the Navy did not leave any stone unturned”, he said.
“I have to appreciate the leadership of the Nigerian Navy, the Chief Of Naval Staff for setting up a panel of inquiry to see to what had happened”
"All this that is happening has ensure that measures are already in place to see to it that extortion is stopped”, he added.
He also confirmed that, apart from the Navy, some Policemen have been arrested.
“Aside that, some policemen were also arrested by the Commissioner of Police Kayode Odumosun and are still in the cell over the extortion of a thing, also some of the truckers that connive with them as well has been arrested and now in the cell” he said.
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