COMTUA Condemns Alleged Return Of LASTCOC Checkpoints On Lagos Port Roads
Kehinde Adeleye
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations, COMTUA, has accused the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operations Committee, LASTCOC, of allegedly returning to illegal checkpoints and toll collection along the Lagos port access corridor.
COMTUA made the allegation following a peace meeting convened by the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, Nigeria Police Force, to address concerns over extortion and illegal roadblocks affecting truckers and port operations.
In a statement issued by COMTUA National President, Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, the union said the meeting was held in line with directives from the Inspector General of Police on ending extortion and illegal checkpoints along port transit routes.
According to the union, representatives of COMTUA and LASTCOC, alongside other stakeholders, met at the headquarters of the Western Ports Command to resolve operational challenges affecting traffic and logistics around the ports.
COMTUA said the meeting resolved that no union, association or committee should conduct union or committee activities, mount checkpoints or collect levies, tolls or tickets along the port corridor.
The affected routes, according to the union, include Coconut, Tin Can, Apapa, Mile 2, Ijora and the Apapa port axis.
However, Aroyewun alleged that LASTCOC operatives returned to the routes less than 24 hours after the agreement, where they allegedly mounted checkpoints and resumed toll collection and harassment of truckers.
“Sadly, less than 24 hours after that agreement, LASTCOC operatives returned to the road this morning, mounted illegal roadblocks, and resumed illegal toll collection, extortion and harassment of truckers with greater impunity,” he said.
He described the alleged action as a challenge to the authority of the Western Ports Command and warned that continued disputes over the port corridor could affect public order and port operations.
COMTUA also said the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority and other Federal Government agencies had previously condemned toll collection on port access roads.
The union urged truckers and its members not to pay money at what it described as illegal checkpoints or purchase LASTCOC tickets.
Aroyewun said continued disagreements over alleged extortion and obstruction along the corridor could heighten tension among truckers.
“We therefore call on the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, to enforce the resolutions of the meeting he convened yesterday, to immediately disband all LASTCOC checkpoints on the port corridor, and to arrest and prosecute those who have chosen to disobey his lawful directive,” he said.
COMTUA said it remained committed to peaceful port operations and economic activities but urged security agencies to intervene to prevent further escalation along the access routes.
