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By Steve Agbota
Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC) has petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene and avert a brewing crisis within the ranks of maritime transporters in the state.
This was contained in a letter to the governor, dated January 14, 2024 and signed by the Chairman of LASTCOC, Lukman Shittu, highlighted a crisis between factions of the National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP), and called for urgent intervention to avert industry-wide problems.
According to him, the crisis is being incited by an alleged impostor of the defunct Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA).
Shittu in the letter contended that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA) was terminated on 20/07/2023, citing the COMTUA alleged selfish motives, contempt, and instigation of violence against authorities and stakeholders.
“COMTUA was terminated by the trucking bodies, which formed it due to alleged selfish motives, contempt, and instigation of violence against authorities and stakeholders by the then leadership.
“While COMTUA is no longer in existence or recognised by law, NAMTOP was formed, but its factionalisation caused truckers to form a unified body as directed by the Lagos State Government,” he said.
He maintained that the legal vacuum led to the formation of LASTCOC by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, adding that LASTCOC is tasked with managing the affairs of truck and cargo operators to achieve ease of doing business.
He said that both factions of NAMTOP have equal representation in LASTCOC. However, even he described the recent actions by the impostor and his faction as a conspiracy to reverse the progress in traffic orderliness and instigate confrontations.
He said the alleged impostor had earlier given his support for the harmonised Lagos State Government ticket, aimed at ending multiple impositions of tickets.
He lamented that the sudden change in stance and accusations of double taxation is hypocritical while urging stakeholders to disregard previous petitions against LASTCOC, describing them as motivated by personal greed and selfish interests, while expressing commitment to working with authorities, unions, and relevant stakeholders to promote trade, seamless cargo evacuation, free-flow of traffic, and ease of doing business in the industry.
Shittu claimed that the allegations are a deliberate attempt to cause a crisis and called on relevant security agencies to question the impostor and hold him responsible for any potential breakdown of law and order.
In the letter to the Governor, LASTCOC also copied to the National Security Adviser; Inspector General of Police; National Director, Directorate of State Services (DSS); Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State; Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State; Commissioner of Police and State Director, Directorate of State Services, Shangisha Lagos.
