Extortion: NAGAFF raises alarm over clampdown on trucks load of empty containers

The leadership of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) on Monday, raised the alarm over alleged incessant clampdown on trucks laden with empty containers along the Apapa Oshodi expressway, inwards Tin Can Island Ports by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) .
The Executive Chairman ,KLT Chapter of NAGAFF, Engineer Emmanuel Umeadi urged the incoming administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address the malady if truly he wants to achieve his promise of fixing the rot

Recall, the governor-elect had promised to address the chaotic traffic situation in Apapa within 60 days of his assumption of office but the Chairman of the association alleged that the alarming rate of extortion by LASTMA officials along Mile 2, Trinity, Sunrise inward Tin Can Island port, could scuttle the process of achieving free flow of vehicular movement within Apapa and its environs except something is done.
Umeadi maintained that members under the KLT Chapter have reported multiple cases of extortion and illegal arrest of trucks laden with empty containers within the aforementioned axis but with no positive response to road marshall.
According to him, the development has been in existence for about three weeks and the association can longer tolerate the alleged extortion by officials of LASTMA.
He maintained that the undue clampdown on such vehicles negates trade facilitation and the ease of doing business at the seaports in Lagos, pointing out that officials of the state agency collect as much as N100,000 to N150,000 and N200,000 from the truckers.
“They will harass you to pay these amount and when you disagree with them, they will forcefully enter the truck ,push the truck driver away and drive it straight to their office.
Their excuse has always been that the drivers are obstructing vehicular movement along the road when we all are aware that the situation is beyond us all.
My members are bringing this same complaint to me on a daily basis and personally, I have some of my empty containers stuck in their office. This has been ongoing for the past three weeks.
“LASTMA officials should understand that the empty containers are also generating revenue for the country because their is VAT payment attached to them; There is duty payment attached to them.
“They should know that clampdown on containers along that axis is not good for the business of freight forwarding and business in general
“They should know how to control traffic and not hijack these trucks unnecessarily without good reasons.
“It is unacceptable for LASTMA officials to drag truck drivers down from the vehicles and zoom off without explanation,” he lamented.
He further alleged that the officials have introduced ticketing method of extorting truckers who failed to cooperate with them adding that the practice is unprofessional and unethical to freight forwarding practice and unfavourable to the nation’s economy.
He also accused shipping companies for failing to provide holding bays for the truckers calling on the government to compel the agencies to do the needful to ameliorate the suffering of truckers.
The chairman further called on the incoming government led President Muhammadu Buhari and the State governor ,Babajide Sanwo Olu to caution traffic management agencies to desist from extortion and sanction shipping line agencies to provide holding bays.