By Uzor Odigbo
Following allegations of extortion levelled against the Presidential Taskforce Team on Apapa traffic, management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has withdrawn drivers attached to the road marshals.
The council had asked its staff deployed to assist the taskforce to resume duty at its corporate head offices, Apapa, and must not be seen anymore with the Comrade Kayode Opeifa-led road marshal along the port corridors.
The drivers were attached with officials of the Taskforce team last year to provide logistics support in patrolling the port corridors of Apapa.
Sources said that the withdrawal was based on the backdrop of negative reports about the controversial taskforce team on alleged extortion of truckers.
It was also gathered that drivers and other officials have resumed their operations from the Otunba Soyede Lane office where the council is situated.
Stakeholders in the port industry had called for the withdrawal of the Taskforce led by Comrade Opeifa, even as they stated that the traffic situation worsened under his control.
Both the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders and others have clamoured for the withdrawal of the Taskforce team.
The lingering traffic at Tin Can Island Port has also increased the cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports in Lagos.