Story by Dili Utomi
The need to encourage healthy road use practice, the safety of members as well as other road users has necessitated the conception of a Rescue Team to aid maritime truck drivers as they engage in their businesses.
The gathering at the main hall of the Rockview hotel, Apapa Wednesday had many industry operators, officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Police as well as officials from the Apapa Local Government in attendance.
The event was the swearing-in of new Lagos State executive committee members for the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), a body known to be in the forefront of fighting for the welfare of maritime truck operators in Nigeria. The occasion also providped a veritable opportunity for the Association to inaugurate a Rescue Team meant to attend to the immediate needs of drivers while on the road.
In his welcome speech, the outgoing Lagos State chairman of AMATO, Luqman ‘Zangalo’ Shittu said that there is a real need for all maritime operators to form a critical mass of unified force so that their interests can be totally addressed and taken care of. In his words “As far as this Association is concerned an injury to one is an injury to all”. He also announced the Association’s partnership rogramme with the Nigerian Towing Vehicle Operators Association for the evacuation of broken-down trucks at no extra charge.
Good will messages followed. The Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority , Toyin Agbamonoja was represented by Olubunkola Oseni, she commended the efforts of AMATO to bring truck operators together as she said “this is for the collective good of everyone and it should be supported”.
CRC McAntho representing Ganiu Kehinde Hamzat, her boss at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that the FRSC is committed topertnerig with AMATO, she advised that members of the truck association should always latches their containers to the trucks as required by safety procedures. She wished the incoming executive committee members a trouble free and successful tenure.
Stephen Okafor, the representative of the NARTO president said “this gathering is the first by AMATO and the transformation in the association is quite remarkable”. He opined that road transport employed more persons that the federal government and urges the government to invest in the building and repair of roads.
The representative of the Mrs Idowu Senbanjo, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government was Segun Moses, He anchored his message on the need for partnering AMATO to make sure that there is always free flow of traffic within and around Apapa. He advocated constant training of truck drivers in order to properly orientate them on theright way to use the roads with consideration to other road users.
Francis Oladokun of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) commended AMATO for engaging in engagements that have yielded good results.
The keynote address was presented by the president of the Association, chief Remi Ogugbemi, noted that “The difficulties confronting truckers today can be traced back to the planning and concessioning of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, where insufficient attention was given to the indispensable role of trucks in port logistics.
Trucks are the backbone of port operations. Yet, the privatization process led to the
removal of designated truck parks that were originally provided by port planners. In
the pre-concession era, indiscriminate parking of trucks along port access roads was rare due to the availability of structured parking facilities”.
His words “Over time, the situation has deteriorated significantly. Trucking operations have become less profitable, largely due to the activities of unauthorized actors both state and non-state who exploit truckers through various means. Consequently, resources that should be allocated to maintenance and fleet renewal are diverted, leaving many trucks in unsafe and poor conditions”.
Chief Ogugbemil urged that “In line with our commitment to solutions, AMATO has identified a parcel of land with the capacity to accommodate approximately 3,500 trucks.This land presents a strategic opportunity for the development of a standard truck marshalling yard to support operations in both Apapa and Tin Can ports.
We have formally presented this proposal to the Honourable Minister of Marine and
Blue Economy, who directed the matter to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. We
sincerely commend the Council for its proactive engagement convening stakeholder meetings and facilitating inspection visits to the proposed site in collaboration with the landowners. Their commitment to resolving this critical issue is highly appreciated”..
The occasion also witnessed the swearing-in of:
1 – Chairman – Alh. Ahmed Saro
2 – Vice-Chairman (Admin) – Alh. Sanusi Abdulhammed
3 – Vice-Chairman (Operations) – Alh. Bidemi Olokunbi
4 – State Secretary – Sani Mohammed Bala
5 – Deputy State Secretary – Azeez Yaqub Kokawole
6 – Treasurer – Alh. Igbalaye Rasak
7 – Assistant Treasurer – Alh. Isiaka Mayowa Bello
8. Financial Secretary – Waheed Alamu
9. Assistant Financial Secretary – Musa Jimeta
10. Public Relations Officer – Seyi Mordecai Adekanmbi
11. Assistant Public Relations Officer – Muritala Jimoh
12. Head Of Operations – Alh. Ganiyu Isiaka Adigun Femisun
13. Deputy Head of Operations – Dr. Olaseni Oladimeji.
14. Auditor – Richard Uzoeghelu
15. Provost Marshal – Comrade Shola Omolola
16. Deputy Provost Marshal – Yusuf Garba
17. Welfare Officer – Moruf Akintayo
18. Organising Secretary – Pessu Temisanren
19. Deputy Organising Secretary – Abideen Ige Adekunle
20. Chief Taskforce Officer – Seyi Taiwo
21. Deputy Chief Taskforce Officer – Alh. Mukaila Aliu
22. Assistant Taskforce Officer – Khalid Shakiru as the new executive committee members of the association for Lagos State.
The Rescue Team of the Association was also formally inaugurated.
The new chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Association, Ahmed Saro also used the opportunity to seek more support from members and also the cooperation of all relevant agencies of government for the growth and continuous development of the maritime truck sector of the Nigerian economy.
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