About 1001 questions are being raised about the move to provide new vehicles for truck owners operating in the nation’s seaports.
Stakeholders have expressed worries over the proposal to replace rickety and old trucks that convey containers and general cargoes in and out of the two ports in Lagos state with new ones.
About 1001 questions are being raised about the move to provide new vehicles for truck owners operating in the nation’s seaports.
Stakeholders have expressed worries over the proposal to replace rickety and old trucks that convey containers and general cargoes in and out of the two ports in Lagos state with new ones.
While some stakeholders described the scheme as placing the cart before the horse, because there is no Memorandum of Standing (MoU) between the providers and the truckers; others have labelled the schemes as having no clear definition on how the colossal project will be handled ".
Some of the questions asked by the truckers include: are the vehicles free, what will happen to the old trucks, is it on a hire purchase scheme, what is the terms of agreement etc.
However, there indications that the expected 2000 new vehicles may tear the various truck owners’ associations apart due to the fact some will definitely benefit from the scheme while others may not.
Investigation has also revealed that the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) group is in the forefront of the scheme, the signpost located at the Trade Fair Complex speaks volume about it.
Even as Chief Remi Ogungbemi and his group appear as being carried away by the prospect of the project, Auto Port Weekly foresees a situation whereby the arrival the vehicles will lead to conflict and misunderstanding among the various associations as well as individuals who are expected to be involved in the scheme, this might lead to a total breakdown of operational activities at the ports in Lagos.
A cross section of truckers who spoke to Auto Port Weekly also disclosed that no agreement has been reached between the providers amongst whom is Alhaji Alhassan Dantata who had said that a total of 2000 units of trucks will soon be imported for the truckers.
With the assurance given recently by the promoters at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos Badagry Expressway about the project, the big question is: what will happen to the old and rickety trucks belonging to their owners.
Some the truck owners replied by saying, "it is too early to comment on what the providers are up to, but it is a welcome idea in the maritime industry".
Others simply said; "it is a way of kicking some of the truck owners out of the haulage business".
"Expect to see some level of betrayal amongst members of the various association in the haulage business within the maritime circle because so many people will love to benefit from the project that does not have any form of definition yet", some stakeholders said last week
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