The President of COMTUA, Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun has explained the stand of the association on the withdrawal of services by associate bodies in the nation’s trucking sub-sector, saying whereas COMTUA recognizes rights of people to take decisions favourable to their associations, the COMTUA won’t join in the truck service withdrawal planned by others.
In a statement signed by the National President of COMTUA, Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, which drew the attention of FGN, LASG, NSC, NPA, DSS, NPF and concerned Nigerian Port operators, the group averred that “ We have received several calls and messages from our members within and outside Lagos, security operatives, gentlemen of the press, and the general public, seeking to know the stand of COMTUA and its affiliate groups and associations on the planned withdrawal of service.
We wish to state our position as follows:
- COMTUA recognizes the right of individuals to freedom of association and assembly.
- COMTUA agrees entirely with the right of individuals, groups, and associations to a protest and withdrawal of service to make demands from the government or society.
- The issues raised by the intended protesters are genuine and requires urgent government intervention and action.
- The extortion, harassment, and intimidation of truckers, which have led to destruction on trucks, injuries, and death of personnel and members, is condemnable.
- The commission of these crimes involves but is not limited to NURTW and RTEAN members, as often emphasized by the intending protesters.
- Members of the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Committee (LASTCOC), the Association of Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO), and their co-conspirators cannot claim innocence on the matter, especially when members of these groups are currently involved in the act in Eric More by Hammed Saro, Ijora- Olopa by Rasaki Igbalaye, Olaseni Oladimeji in Amuwo Odofin, Issa Babatunde in Amuwo Odofin , Salawu Azees in Ikorodu, Wale in Lekki area and several parts of Lagos State on the road, against the warning and directives of the Commissioner of police Lagos state command.
That the Association of Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO) represents only its registered members and not the entire trucking community.
We, in COMTUA, wish to inform the general public that we are not part of the proposed withdrawal of service and shall not tolerate any act of disturbance to our operations and business on the proposed date.
We have mentioned this before the DSS at a meeting we held on Thursday, 5th September 2024, that we are suspecting conspiracy between the immediate past port manager of LPC and these groups against the current handlers of the ports and the new management of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Our suspicion is premised on the fact that the group and the former manager (who have often falsely paraded the group as an umbrella body for truckers) are not just waking up to the illegalities but wish to use it now as an instrument of blackmail against the system.
We advise the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to advise the Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP) against their plan to suspend bookings and batching of trucks on the said date in solidarity with the intended protesters.
The personnel of NPA at Terminals should also be briefed to be professional and not work in solidarity with the said group.
Finally, We are by this medium advising the government and security agencies to ensure security of lives and properties on the said date and beyond, as We shall protect ourselves and business where they fail to do so.
A committee of the Lagos State government in connivance with a group to call for a withdrawal of service and even propose to shut down a federal government facility like the Nigerian Ports is susceptible
