Truck owners under the auspices of Coalition of Ports Dry Cargo Transport Operators (CPDCTO) is warming up to protest the N10,000 registration fee slammed on truckers by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), saying that due consultation was not followed before the implementation.
The group is currently working out modalities on how to stage a peaceful protest to ground port operations as part of measures to resist the payment.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that from March 1st 2016, all trucks without its sticker would not be allowed into the ports as part of measures to enforce minimum standards for trucks.
The new truck operator group has also set up a 14 man committee drawn from the various maritime transport unions.
The transport coalition further noted that the Nigerian Ports Authority over time failed to consult relevant haulage groups to move the sector forward.
The body comprising unions like Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Road Transport Owners (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Drivers branch, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Joint Council for Seaports Truckers (JCOST) and Truck Terminal Users Association (TTUA) are working out modalities on how to mobilize their members for a show down with the government agency to persuade it from collecting N10,000 per vehicle.
It also threatened to seek a court injunction for NPA to explain reasons behind the fee collection.
Speaking with our correspondent, shortly after the maiden meeting of the group on Thursday, Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa, stressed that the body was set up to address the unwarranted fee.
Inuwa who also doubles as the Lagos State Vice Chairman of NARTO reiterated that, “Any moment from now, we will start mobilizing ourselves by coming out in a big way to protest the unacceptability of that monetary aspect to be paid by truck owners.
“We have all agreed to do that and every truck owners have agreed to up their trucks in standard but the money to be paid does not go down well with us”.
He disclosed further that the group would meet on Monday to finalize plans on how to carry out a peaceful demonstration to drive home their demands.
Inuwa explained that some of the strategies put in place by the committee to resist the payment of the money include: mobilization of protesters, aggressive campaign awareness programme; which would include flyers, stickers and banners.
Though the truck owner declined to gave a particular date when the protest will commence but added that the operators would take the NPA by surprise.
He said that for NPA to demand N10, 000 from them was not acceptable because according to him, the agency hasdno business in transportation of cargoes out of the ports due to the concession agreement.
Inuwa further faulted NPA registration of trucks before transacting business at the ports saying that truck owners did not subscribe to it in any way.
Also speaking, Secretary of the committee, Comrade Ifeany Ekwunife said that the March 1st deadline was not acceptable stressing the need for NPA to look inward by providing an enabling environment for truck operators to remain in business.
The secretary who also double as a chieftain of RTEAN added that operators have been able to upgrade the standards of their vehicles , noting that majority of the haulage trucks doing business at the ports were of durable and technically sound.
Other members of the committee in a statement made available to our correspondent include: Comrade Okafor Stephen (NARTO), Kayode Odunowo (JCOST), Godwin Ikeji (JCOST),Wale Oladeinde (NARTO), Patrick Onyegbule (MWUN), Sylvester Keshiro (RTEAN).
Others include Alhaji A.Y Hamzat, (TTUA), Mohammed Ahmed (TTUA) ,Usman Ibrahim Bayi and Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi both from (NURTW), Muritala Abdulawal and Musa .K.S.
Send your news, press releases/articles to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook at facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
