The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has petitioned the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NPC), over what they described as the undue impounding of trucks already cleared to transport cargo from the Apapa Port Complex.

In a letter of protest by AMATO President, Mr. Remi Ogungbemi, the group expressed concern over the rising tension within the trucking community caused by the development.

The association demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the impounded vehicles, which they claim had been processed through the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) platform and cleared for entry into the ports.

Ogungbemi stated: “We write to express our outrage over the unjust impounding of our trucks that were duly released by the NPA/TTP coordination team from the Lilypond Truck Transit Park to the Apapa Port.

“The Lagos State Committee enforcing time-belt regulations in the Apapa corridor apprehended our trucks, which were on the designated lane, and detained them despite their possession of valid E-call tickets confirming their release from the Lilypond pre-gate.”

AMATO emphasized that a swift resolution to the issue is crucial to calming the trucking community’s growing frustration.

They listed the affected vehicles to include those with number plates EJY 23 XY, YLA 312 XW, KTU 579 XX, KDR 748 XA, KDR 573 XX, JJJ 757 XY, DKA 656 ZY, APA 987 YG, EPE 869 XD, APP 154 XW, KZA 597 XX, AGL 100 XA, and LND 473 XH.

The association urged the Lagos State Government to act promptly to resolve the matter.

One of the affected truck driver, Ishola Adams said the arrest of duly processed trucks has become very rampant adding this situation cannot continue. (Vanguard)