The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) on Thursday expressed strong support for the bold decision to unbundle ETO.
The COMTUA President, Comrade Adeyinka Aroyewun indicated this during a press briefing, stressing that members across the board, have been yearning for this decision which is bound to significantly reduce the lingering menace of inefficiency, extortionist practices and the burgeoning lawlessness in the maritime industry.
The Maritime First learned that the decision to unbundle ETO was taken by the apex management of the Maritime Industry which preferred a holistic approach, towards boosting efficiency and productivity, through creating healthy competition.
Aroyewun said it is on record that as part of COMTUA’s collective efforts to rid the strategic maritime sector of these social tumours, it had already developed an alternative computerized application that is robust in scope and backed by demonstrable effectiveness that is second to none in the business.
According to him: “As seasoned truckers with a long history of enviable performance, it is our hope that in spearheading this unbundling exercise, the apex Ports Management, whose core responsibility is in the complex area of Cargo Handling, would also place adequate priority on the need to promote and support all workable initiatives, such as the one developed by our great union, as briefly highlighted at this open conference.
“When this is done in a timely manner, Nigerians and all those who are doing business in the Maritime Industry shall begin to witness the groundswell of unsolicited commendations and merited encomiums being showered upon the NPA management for these very brilliant and impactful accomplishments.”
The President however condemned frequent frictions between law-abiding members and the overzealous LASTMA officials.
He restated the pains that motorists of all hues go through in the hands of LASTMA officers whose culture of extortion has been rampant and is now bordering on gross impunity.
Aroyewun stated that these categories of road managers have become so emboldened by the blind eyes that the Lagos State government usually takes in handling all public complaints labeled against them, such that, they had become uncontrollable in the indiscretions they exercise while performing some basic official duties.
He pointed out that it is a known fact, that ordinary civil cases involving drivers, such as packing by the roadside to re-fix a depleted tyre always resulted into arrest, towing and detention of such vehicles and a punitive fine of not less than one hundred thousand Naira.
He said that these extortionist charges are being cruelly imposed without any consideration of the affected vehicles’ weight, size or even the distance from the scene of the arrest to their head office.
“These types of sharp practices solely designed for self-enrichment should not be allowed to continue unabated in our dear Lagos State.
“Similarly, COMTUA wishes to reaffirm that, we feel morally compelled and duty-bound to report to you that contrary to the hordes of denials and promises by the Lagos State government, the menace of extortions and other unwholesome practices being perpetrated by some notorious state and non-state actors, are still ongoing in many parts of our busy Ports.
“Sadly, it would appear that our persistent appeals and calls for prompt government intervention to arrest this drift have been treated with reckless abandon.
“The allegation of multiple taxations on the part of state actors.
Wharf Landing Authority, Local government councils are condemnable.
“The cost of diesel and spare parts is on the increase.
We need government intervention and support.
“We in COMTUA shall not despair and will remain more implacable in our legitimate demands for justice to be done and are resolutely determined to continue urging the government and to stay the course until we achieve our just demands,” the president further noted.
