Truck drivers on Thursday began to
withdraw their services from the ports in protest over the restriction
of their movements to the night-time by the Lagos State Government.
Following an accident involving a
container truck which claimed three lives at Ojuelegba, the Lagos State
Government announced the restriction of truck movement within the
metropolis to between 9pm – 6am.
Truck drivers under the aegis of the
Association of Maritime Truck Owners and National Association of Road
Truck Owners said that they would withdraw their trucks from the road
with immediate effect over the restriction directive.
Chairman
of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said that it was difficult
for members to comply with the state directive on the restriction due to
security reasons.
He said, “This is why we have decided to
withdraw our services with immediate effect until normalcy returns. The
state policy restricting trucks movement to the night would be hard to
comply with because the safety of our trucks, drivers and the cargoes
cannot be guaranteed.
“Hijackers are hijacking trucks with goods till date. So, if we move at night, hijacking will become more rampant.”
Ogungbemi added that the warehouses and
factories where the cargoes are discharged by the truck drivers don’t
operate at night. He said no place had been earmarked by the state
government to serve as a park for truck drivers.
He said, “There is no designated truck
park where we can stay until we can be allowed to move. All these
infrastructures have to be put in place before they can start
implementing such a policy. As it is, the current situation will have a
negative effect on the economy of the nation.”
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State
Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, had on Sunday said the
movement of trucks between 9pm and 6am contravened Section 2 (i) (ii) of
the Lagos State Road Traffic Law and vowed that erring drivers would be
summarily dealt with.
Whenu said, “The state government will
henceforth go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that contravened the
law, as such vehicle will be impounded and made to pay the stipulated
fine accordingly.”
The section of the state traffic law
bars trailers from travelling within the Lagos metropolis between 6am
and 9pm. It states that “any driver found contravening the provisions of
this section shall have his vehicle impounded by a duly authorised
officer of the authority and shall upon conviction be liable to a fine
of N50,000 or a term of imprisonment for six months or both.”
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