Alleged Extortion: COMTUA Accuses AMATO of Hypocrisy, Says ‘Come to Equity with Clean Hands’
The Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has accused the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) of hypocrisy over allegations of extortion on the maritime logistics corridors in Lagos, challenging the association to “come to equity with clean hands.”
COMTUA National President, Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, made the accusation in a statement issued on Saturday in reaction to concerns raised by AMATO over alleged extortion by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
Aroyewun described AMATO’s position as “the kettle calling the pot black,” alleging that some members of the association operating under the Lagos State Council of Commercial Truck Owners and Operators (LASTCOC) were also involved in collecting tickets from truckers on public roads.
He argued that NURTW and RTEAN, as registered trade unions, had the right to collect check-up dues from their members, but questioned the authority of AMATO members allegedly collecting AMATO daily tickets and an ungazetted Lagos State ticket from truckers.
According to Aroyewun, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) involving the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force directed unions to remain in their garages to sell tickets to their members.
He alleged that NURTW and RTEAN complied with the directive and withdrew from the roads, but claimed that AMATO members operating under LASTCOC subsequently occupied some of the points.
The COMTUA president further alleged that AMATO National Secretary, Comrade Muhammed Sanni Bala, who he said also serves as Secretary of LASTCOC, was a signatory to an agreement involving Istijabah of NURTW for the sale of LASTCOC tickets to truckers.
Aroyewun also alleged that LASTCOC executive members compelled their members to purchase RTEAN tickets in order to use RTEAN ticketing points to sell LASTCOC tickets.
He listed Majidun in Ikorodu, Ikorodu Garage Roundabout, Sabo and Odogunyan in Ikorodu, Apple Junction in Amuwo, NIMASA Junction in Kirikiri and Eleko Junction in Lekki among locations where he alleged that LASTCOC members were still collecting tickets from truckers.
“At all these points, the story is the same,” Aroyewun alleged, claiming that LASTCOC members were operating alongside NURTW or RTEAN members.
He consequently questioned AMATO’s allegations against the other transport unions, asking: “So who is extorting who?”
COMTUA said it supported the lawful collection of check-up dues by NURTW and RTEAN from their members, but condemned any form of extortion on public roads, irrespective of the association involved.
Aroyewun accused AMATO of allegedly violating the same MOU it had signed and urged the association to address the allegations against its members before accusing other unions.
“Come to equity with clean hands,” he said.
COMTUA subsequently called on the NPA, Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to enforce the MOU and ensure that no association or committee sells tickets on public roads.
It also called for the immediate disbandment of LASTCOC, alleging that the body had become a vehicle for extortion, while urging the government to provide standard holding bays for truckers to reduce their exposure to touting and multiple ticketing.
Aroyewun said the maritime trucking industry was already facing serious operational challenges and urged relevant authorities to take decisive action against alleged extortion and illegal ticketing along the corridors.
The allegations contained in the statement could not be independently verified, as of press time.
