Truck owners have bemoaned the unchecked extortion by a combined force of area boys, police officers, as well as other security agents at the Lagos port.

In a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, the group under the aegis of the United Truckers Advocacy Team said they were being extorted daily by security operatives.

Remi Ogungbemi, who is chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners and leader of the group, said they were tired of complaining and were putting an end to the issue.

“We have sat down and seen that it is not enough for us to complain.

“That is why we set up this advocacy team to let security agencies know that we have been hearing about extortion and it will no longer be business as usual.

“We are no longer comfortable with the extortion and we don’t want it to continue again.

“Our coming out is also to have a cordial working relationship with those that are designated to pass trucks on the roads,” he stated.

The group embarked on a campaign against extortion on Thursday with visits to checkpoints mounted by security agencies along port access roads within the Lagos ports corridor.

They also visited the Ports Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Fumilayo Olotu and the Area Commander, Area B police command, Muhammed Dikwa, to register their complaints.

According to Mr Ogungbemi, the advocacy team was inaugurated following a series of complaints of extortion of truck drivers while accessing the ports.

He said the group had started working with support from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Truck Transit Park to checkmate the excesses of the traffic control managers.

During the roadshow, the police officer of the traffic control team at the SIFAX checkpoint, Fidelis Ihiezu, denied allegations of extortion by officials.

Mr Ihiezu said truck drivers were in the habit of fabricating false stories against the police and other security agents, and instead blamed street urchins for the extortion. 

“Right from inception, we were warned about extortion; and the rules and regulations guiding all agencies here kick against corruption, except they are doing it on the other side.

“If anybody is caught, the person will go in for it; no agency here supports extortion because they pay us allowances and salaries.

“Extortion also comes in from the `Area Boys (street urchins). Before you park any truck, preparatory to move, they will collect N3,000 per day from the drivers until they move,” he said.

Mr Ihiezu assured that the security agents would improve on their efforts to checkmate the activities of the area boys extorting truck drivers within the area.

At the Lagos Port Complex, Mrs Olotu urged the truckers to comply with the terms of the e-call-up system and they would be bold to challenge any security agency over extortion.

She said NPA was putting measures in place to address issues of extortion, such as redeploying security officials that had stayed for a very long time on the beat.

(NAN)