Truck operators complain of N40m extortion at 20 points
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Truck operators at the Lagos seaports have complained of being extorted of N40 million daily by touts who impose illegal taxes and also demand bribe along the port corridor.
An official of the Council for Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) said the syndicate collecting the monies represent both state and non-state actors.
He said the total average spending per truck per day amounts to about N38,500 paid by their members who move more than 1,000 trucks through the ports every day.
He listed the levies as follows:
- N3,000 – paid at Tin-Can First Gate roundabout
- N2,000 – waybill collected by people allegedly working for Apapa Council, a claim the Council denied
- N5,000 – collected by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officials
- N1,000 – collected by another set of Customs personnel at the Customs exit gate.
- N2,000 – collected by police at one collection point
- N1,000 – collected by police at another collection point
- N500 – warehouse fee
- N2,000 – cutting of seal fee
- N4,000 – collected by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials
- N4,000 – collected by one set of council officials
- N1,000 – paid for “small paper” collected by agents of a Lagos politician
- N3,000 – paid for “confirmation”
- N2,000 – paid for gate pass
- N1,000 – security fee
- N1,000 – another security fee
- N2,000 – scaling fee
- N4,000 – dropping of container fee
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20 extortion points
COMTUA President Yinka Aroyewun lamented the “alarming and condemnable” extortion, according to reporting by Vanguard.
“There are 20 extortion points between Tin-Can first gate and the point at which you off-load your empty containers or drop your export cargoes. From N1,000 to N2,000 to N3,000 to N5,000 are collected by agencies of government,” he said.
Government fails to stop extortion
Some truck owners told Vanguard they have done everything possible to bring this criminal activity to the attention of government but nothing has been done to stop it.
Richard Odoka, a truck owner, said trucks carrying export cargoes are the most affected in the extortion.
According to him, about 1,000 trucks of various categories daily enter the Tin-Can Island Port, Port and Cargo Terminal ‘C’, Joseph Dam Terminal, and Five Logistics Terminal.
Apapa Council denies mandating anyone to collect levy
In reaction, the Chief of Staff to Apapa Council Chairman, Dele Afose, insisted the council did not send anyone to collect money on its behalf.
“I am not aware of this development. In fact, I am shocked that people are collecting money on behalf of the local government. The local government did not post anybody anywhere,” he said.
