- Demand investigation into persistent violence
The Logistics Practitioners Association of Nigeria (LPAN), in conjunction with an emerging group, the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), has condemned the exploitation of truck drivers, and demanded investigation into the perennial violence on the Mile 2/Tin Can Island route to the Lagos Port.
The two groups alleged that the consistent exploitation at the port might have been responsible for the clash between an unregistered association, Truck Owners Association and members of the Presidential Task Force on Apapa Gridlock last Sunday morning at Fatgbems Petrol Station, Mile 2.
The public relations officer of LPAN, Tunde Oyebola, berated the parts played by those he called the ‘unregistered’ Trucks Owners and members of the task force on the incident.
Stressing that Sunday’s incident may not be unconnected with conspiracy and extortion of the truck drivers plying the Tin Can Island route from the Mile 2 axis, the LPAN PRO, therefore, called for investigations by relevant law enforcement and government agencies into the activities of all those involved in the friction.
Members of LPAN had raised concerns over alleged confrontation of the Presidential Task Force on Apapa Gridlock by members of the Truck Owners group at Fatgbems Petrol Station axis in relation to passage of trucks to access the Tin Can Island route to the port for loading of consignment.
Oyetola also reiterated their demand for investigation into allegations of extortion of truck drivers by the unregistered Truck Owners and the task force on the Mile 2 – Tin Can Island route.
The operatives of the task force have however denied collecting of money from truck drivers.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the transport business at the port had intervened on the crisis in the sector and came up with resolution of a broader platform for all stakeholders known as Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), to coordinate activities of transport operations at the Lagos Ports.
The meeting was attended by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Independent Truck Owners, core AMATO members, LPAN and other transport business stakeholders at the seaport.
The meeting supported the views of LPAN, which has often condemned the traffic management and exploitation of trucks operators at the Lagos seaports.
The stakeholders decried the difficulties transporters go through under the current situation, and the reprisal effect on the national economy, including impediment on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order and other federal government instruments on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The stakeholders, under the umbrella of AMATO, led by Chief Remi Ogungbemi, have called for total overhaul of transportation operations at the Lagos ports, and demand immediate dissolution of the task forces for a proper restructuring of the traffic management system.
Alleged N8.1bn contract scam: Security agencies launch manhunt for Diezani’s cousin over alleged attacks on Monguno
Security agencies are currently on the trail of a business mogul and cousin of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison Madueke, for allegedly seeking to tarnish the image of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd) and former coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubu.
The decision to go after Kaysle Agama, Daily Sun learnt, became compelling following concern raised by the NSA by series of reports on some social media platforms to the effect that while in office, Dokubu awarded and paid unexecuted contracts worth N1.8bn to his cronies.
Security agencies may have also been motivated by recent accusations by various stakeholders and leaders of the Niger Delta region that Agama has been appearing in several viral videos alleging that the NSA and Prof. Dokubu were involved in the said N1.8bn unexecuted contract at the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Besides, sources at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed to Daily Sun that Agama, who was a contractor with the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, is under investigation by the commission over some contract related issues.
According to the source, “the commission is investigating a lot of people that appears to have a link with the allegations against Diezani and I think he is one of them.
“Our team of investigators are trying to reach out to him and others to establish some of the allegations.”
At the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, an official confirmed that “one Agama had sometimes called from his base in the United States seeking clarifications on some issues.
“I don’t know him and have not met him in person, but he is one of those linked to series of attacks on the leadership of the presidential Amnesty Programme.
“I received a call from someone who introduced himself as Agama. He said he was calling from the US and wanted some information from me, which I declined his request.”
Community leaders and groups in the Niger Delta region have expressed concern over the allegations of corruption and smear campaign against the NSA, who is currently overseeing the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, following the suspension of Prof. Charles Dokubu as coordinator.
In a statement, leader of the group, Ebiowe Thank God, expressed fears that the allegations are capable of jeopardizing the activities of the programme in the region.
