Operators in the maritime sector have accused the Lagos State Governor; Mr. Akinwumi Ambode of bias in the restriction order placed on dry cargo truck operators, saying that the wet cargo haulage operators also pose serious threat on the Lagos roads.
The maritime operators harped on the need for the governor to be fair enough on all concerned parties.
Operators in the maritime sector have accused the Lagos State Governor; Mr. Akinwumi Ambode of bias in the restriction order placed on dry cargo truck operators, saying that the wet cargo haulage operators also pose serious threat on the Lagos roads.
The maritime operators harped on the need for the governor to be fair enough on all concerned parties.
A maritime operator, Mr. Oliver Omajuwa blamed the government for the present situation of the road, even as he added that state Governor Akinwummi Ambode took a wrong decision by restricting the movement of cargo laden trucks..
Omajuwa also accused the port’s economic regulator; the Nigerian Shippers' Council for allegedly sitting on the fence in the on-going strike embarked upon by the transporters.
Omajuwa argued that petroleum products tankers have caused more havoc on the roads, when compared to rate of accident caused by container laden trucks.
He said that more lives and properties were destroyed at the Iyana Ipaja accident involving a tanker when compared to the recent accident at Ojuelegba also in Lagos.
He maintained that the government action is biased against the haulage operators, describing the action as double standard.
"The government has not worked on the roads yet they are asking derelict trucks to move at night, so that they can cause more harm and danger". All these are articulated trucks but are the tankers better, are the Dangote trucks on the roads better?”, he asked.
"I believe the government is not being realistic and if you take it a little bit further , we are sitting on keg of gun powder because when you ask everybody to work at night and apart from the truckers, clearing agents have to work in the night, terminal operator will have no choice but to work at night and above all the banks; which in turn will lead to increase rate of armed robbery or our roads".
He urged NPA and Shippers' Council to put heads together, meet with the Lagos State Government on the way out of the problem at hand.
He added that the government has what it takes to provide holding bays for truckers, saying that the government is shying away from its responsibility.
On his part, Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam noted that the government has a duty to protect lives and properties, stressing that "this issue of giving opportunity to tankers to ply the roads does not go down too well, even when the tankers have their own problems than that of container trucks.
Aniebonam urged the government to provide holding bay that can service the ports even as he stressed that the approach to the lingering face-off between the Lagos state government and the truckers was wrong.
He also noted that the government should have consulted with maritime operators before taking the action.
Also speaking to our correspondent, former Chairman Tin Can Island Chapel of Road Transport employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Comrade Sylvester Keshiro acknowledged that the accident that claimed some lives at Ojuelegba led to the restriction of the trucks, but also added that what the tankers had caused in recent time is worst, but alleged that the government never reacted.
He said the state government is unfair to the truckers by allowing the tankers to ply the roads.
At a scene, one tanker has killed hundreds of people, while properties and shops were destroyed, but government did not restrict their movement just because the whole state will be in problem and that is why they look back to say that let us look for those that will suffer the consequence", he added.
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