Truck drivers operating at the two terminals, Five Star Logistics and Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML); both at Tin-Can Island port, have said that they part with at least N1, 000 before they can access the two terminals.
One of the truck drivers who gave his name as Sunny Oyedi, told Shipping Position Daily at Tin Can Island first gate last week that the whole ports area is ridden with extortions of different kinds.
Explaining further, he said that almost all the roundabout towards the entrance of the terminals have a price attached, depending on the one you want to use, even as he blamed security operatives from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Police of spearheading the extortions.
Giving specific examples “If you are coming from Coconut Bus stop descending the bridge there is a place they called ‘Abuja’, there are some security operatives claiming to be controlling traffic into the terminals but they are there collecting money from drivers. They collect N2000 for 4oft and N1000 for 20ft”
“At that round about in front of NPA building at Tin Can, they ask for the same amount, if you want to turn their, else they will direct you to turn at PTML. And even at the PTML U-turn you will have to give at least N500 to the police officers there before you can go”
Also speaking a truck driver who doesn’t want his name in print, because of the fear of being victimized also said that they even collect in front of entrance into Five Star terminals, even if you are coming out from the terminal.
“They don’t want to know, if you fail to pay they will direct you to go and turn at PTML and sometimes because of the nature of what you are carrying the truck might break down there causing huge traffic”.
Meanwhile the Tin Can Island chapter chairman of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) Mr. Jude Ige, confirmed the story.
He said that these extortionists now use Camp Boys to carry out their crimes.
“The issue of extortion is very common here, from that PTML junction those security officers there have a particular amount they collect from each truck, 40ft they collect N20, 000 and for 20ft they collect N1,000”
“And these are before you enter into the port or terminals. In front of the Five Star gate they collect as much as N2, 000 to N1000. It is not one group it is joint effort of the Police and NPA security staff. If you fail to drop money they won’t allow the motor to go”
“Even when a container is coming out of second gate there is a group that you must pay before you can go out and they call themselves NPA security. And the worst of the whole thing is that they won’t come in person, they have a lot of Camp Boys that they use”
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