The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON has petitioned the Port Manager, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Onne port in Rivers State over forceful diversion of trucks to a park allegedly under the authority of the NPA, Onne port, operated by a company identified as LP Consult.
APFFLON in a petition by its counsel, Winning Associates addressed to the Port Manager, NPA, Onne Port with the title, “Extortion By LP Consult In The Name Of Nigerian Ports Authority”, dated 12th March, 2024 and signed by A.A Adedapo Esq, alleged that there existed a park for trucks under the authority of NPA, Onne where trucks were forcefully diverted to and made to cough out twenty thousand naira (N20,000) whether or not they have their own parks.
According to the petition, “On the 11th day of March, 2024, trucks were being forcefully diverted to the above named park by LP Consult whether they have their own park or not adding that each truck so diverted were made to pay N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) at the entrance of the park and another N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) at the exit to be shared by the Consult, the Union and other who knows who.
“That LP Consult claimed that: (a) They are acting under the instructions of the Nigerian Ports Authority. (b) The same practice is obtainable in Lagos. (c) There will soon be truck call up in all terminals.
“That this extra unnecessary means of extortion will further increase the general price of goods, frustrate and chase shippers out of business and in turn bring more hardship to the masses. This is totally against the policies of the federal government and the agenda of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It continued, “Our instructions from our client and purpose of writing to you is this: That if the conditions and state of affairs listed above are indeed from the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Ports Authority should issue a memo to the effect that: 1. The LP Consult is working under the Nigerian Ports Authority as claimed by LP Consult. 2. All trucks must pass through the park. 3. All trucks must make payment of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) at the entrance and N10,000 at the exit gate.
“Note that if the park had been leased to LP Consult, or to any other union or individual, it will be illegal for our clients or any other person to be forced against their will to be made to park in a place against their will and be made to pay N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) per truck.
“Our clients are not unaware of the proposed E-call Up which is designed to facilitate trade and not to create hardship. They are aware that trucks are to pass through a transit park and get a ticket which at worst should not be more than N2,000 (Two Thousand Naira) only.
“We are highly assured of your timely response to this letter.”
The petition was , however, copied to the Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2, Onne, Director, Department of State Services, Rivers State and the Divisional Police Officer, Ports Authority Police Command, Onne, Rivers State.
Meanwhile, in a telephone chat with our correspondent today, the President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite informed that a meeting was yesterday convened by the NPA Port Manager, Prince G.C Zhattau to discuss the issue. In attendance to the meeting, according to the President were APFFLON Onne chapter Executive, as well as a representative of LP Consult, simply identified as Hon. Uche.
His words, “We are still appealing to them because it’s an additional cost and I don’t think people will be forced to park when they have their own park. That is why we contacted our lawyer to write the NPA.
“They had a meeting yesterday and it was agreed that the practice should be stopped but it did not stop. So,my boys went out there yesterday to stop the collection.
“That ten thousand naira is too much, they should not collect more than two thousand naira because that place is not a town, Onne is a village. There’s enough space there, so, why do you now deliberately exploit people? That was our anger.
“We went back there yesterday and discovered that they were still collecting the money, so we had to stop them.”
Photo: Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, President, APFFLON.
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