Maritime Union Laments Illegal Extortion Of Members

The members of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association (COMTUA) have expressed their displeasure at how hoodlums and street urchins disrupt their business activities on Lagos roads, vowing not to allow criminal elements to frustrate their efforts.

President of the Association, Yinka Aroyewun, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, accused the Lagos State government, the Nigerian Police, and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), of using the state security apparatus, as well as draconian regulations to frustrate their legitimate efforts.

Aroyewun also stated that efforts have been made by the leadership of COMTUA to nip the activities of the hoodlums in the bud, but alleged that the state government had chosen to look the other way.

The COMA boss reiterated the need to protect members of the association from illegal extortions, which according to him, had been part of the problems affecting the business across the nation.

 

Maritime Union Laments Illegal Extortion Of Members

 

He insisted also that the issue of hoodlums attacking truck drivers on the road with sophisticated weapons can best be described as a complete breakdown of the law and security architecture of the state, adding that the situation has been the bane of the business.

“Something urgent needs to be done to forestall this bare rip-off, which had turned our members to ordinary beggars amid plenty.

“You marvel that despite our efforts to be law-abiding in doing our legitimate business, we have been having issues with both the state and the non-state actors, who have been using the state security architectures to frustrate us out this business. Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigerian Police, the Navy, and other security operatives are also culpable in frustrating our efforts to move from one destination to another. It is as bad as that.

“Even the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is also part of the problems hindering the smooth running of our business. However, we can not keep mute and allow the status quo to remain while our members are dying in silence,” he said.

Apart from alleged illegal extortions of members by both state and non-state actors, including security operatives, other issues raised by the leadership of COMTUA, include deliberate delay in the administration of justice by the Lagos state mobile court, irregularities in the activities of the management of the NPA and pure disregard to the law.

“The NPA came up with an initiative tagged: Truck Transit Park (TTP), which they admitted to being a failure. Also, the electronic call-up medium nicknamed, ‘ETO’ according to NPA, still needs to be fine-tuned. So, while we are still contending with issues of illegal extortions, and the government’s failure to help us sort the security and legal issues out, the NPA is also doing everything to frustrate us.

“On several occasions, many of our members have endured the most difficult situation in the hands of those that we thought are in the best position to protect us, however, rather than helping us, they are bent on frustrating us from doing our legitimate business.

“We are using this opportunity to tell the world that COMTUA is ready to fight our battle legitimately, using all legal apparatus to curb illegal extortions and further forestall all activities capable of threatening our business across Lagos State and beyond. We’ll use all possible means to forestall illegal extortions,” Aroyewun added.

BY IYABO AINA 

Publisher News Rain Nigeria