FG sets up joint ministerial committee to address maritime truck owners’ concerns

From Idu Jude, Abuja

The federal government has constituted a 5-man joint ministerial committee comprising the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy with a charge to mediate, address, and proffer remedies to challenges faced by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation comprised of the National Executive of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

Speaking, Alkali explained that the meeting and constitution of the joint committee became imperative following correspondence from the Unions on their intent to embark on a nationwide strike due to unabated destruction of trucks, brutalization of truck drivers, and illegal tariffs, amongst others, by associations and groups.

He identified the crucial role the association plays in the affairs of the country, stating that transportation is the gateway to the nation’s economy. This is even as he noted that the sector can not succeed without the cooperation and collaboration of both unions.

On her part, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), AMATO, Folake Soji-George, while presenting the union’s position, stated that challenges faced by the association informed the unanimous decision of maritime trucking stakeholders to withdraw its services to press home their demand.

She disclosed that the maritime trucking community has, for a protracted period, been bedevilled with the scourge of unabated destruction of its assets (trucks) and brutalization of its drivers by a certain group, which, according to her, has made operations unbearable.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Chief Aloga Ogbogo stated that the body has highlighted the excessive towing practices by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and also raised concerns about increasing intimidation, harassment, brutalisation, and killings of truck drivers, These atrocities have become unbearable, negatively impacting their businesses and has hindered transporters from renewing their fleets, as their income is directly tied to turnaround time.

The constituted committee consists of the Permanent Secretary of Marine and Blue Economy, Oloruntola Olufemi, as Chairman and his counterpart of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Adeleye Adeoye, as Co-Chairman.

The Director of Legal Services, Pius Oteh, the Secretary, the Director of Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Musa Ibrahim, and the Director of Maritime Services, Babatunde Sule, are members.

The committee is expected to provide findings and recommendations to the minister within two weeks.