Lagos, Nigeria — Tensions flared in the Mile-2 area of Lagos last Friday when hoodlums attacked a truck driver who resisted their extortion attempts. This incident of violence along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway near Maza Maza First Gate underscores ongoing conflicts despite official mandates against unregulated toll collections.
Sanni Bala, secretary of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), shared details of the assault, emphasizing the trucker’s resistance to illegal charges. AMATO’s announcement was accompanied by video evidence illustrating the severity of the disregard for law by rogue entities identified as members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
The Lagos State Government had previously coordinated with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council to clearly prohibit unauthorized tolls. Hon. Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, had firmly stated measures to combat such misdemeanors. Giwa had vowed to safeguard the routes particularly the Tincan-Apapa Corridor, stating that immediate raids would dispel miscreants and imposters from the crucial transport links.
Addressing threats to economic stability, Giwa condemned the extortion actions as “economic sabotage” and reminded that under the 2018 State Transport Sector Reforms Law, the collection of tolls on Lagos roads without authorization was illegal. He further noted, “No union, including RTEAN and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has the right to impose tolls on these truck corridors.”
In his remarks, Giwa acknowledged the truck operators’ collective efforts and increased collaboration among the unions, which he described as pivotal in resolving these conflicts. He recommended truckers use the whistleblower app developed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to report such illegalities. This facilitates real-time evidence gathering and aids in the quick resolution of the issues.
At a pivotal meeting at the NPA Annex Office in Marina, key stakeholders including LASTMA, NPA, and the Department of State Security strategized to ensure strict enforcement against illegal toll collection. High-ranking officials such as Chief Remi Ogungbemi of AMATO, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle of NURTW, and Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji of RTEAN discussed the framework to eliminate the illicit practice, which culminated in an agreement to avert a looming truckers’ strike.
DCP Tijani Fatai, a delegate for the Commissioner of Police, assured the trucking community of comprehensive support from the Nigerian Police Force, indicating a united front in tackling these disruptions.
Despite these robust measures and collective commitments, the violent incident at Mile-2 raises questions about the effectiveness of the enforcement and the persistence of unauthorized toll extractors. This episode not only challenges the authority of governmental decrees but also suggests a critical need for intensified surveillance and law enforcement actions in these territories. The road ahead requires not just regulations but rigorous enforcement and the community’s active engagement to truly secure the corridors vital for Nigeria’s commerce.