.......Fatoba Moves Motion for Investigation
Member of House of representatives representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency One, Hon. Olusola Fatoba (MHR) has called for thorough investigation into the unwarranted extortion of truck operators and other port users by law enforcement agents at Lagos Apapa Port.
The Rep. Member made this call in his motion at the floor of the green chamber on 27th of February.
The federal house of representatives in its sitting yesterday noted that the Apapa port in Lagos has been enmeshed in Crisis and traffic gridlock over a long time which led to the establishment of a presidential task force team to restore normalcy on the road leading to the nation's seaport. Also noted that a team of law enforcement agents comprising men of the Nigerian Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Agency(LASTMAN)and others are the port to maintain vehicular movement in and out of the port, particularly, movement of trucks going in to load and unload containers at the port.
The house worried that the enforcement agents that are supposed to maintain law and order at the port have now formed a, "cartel" in conjunction with some unscrupulous staff of APM Terminals Apapa/ Nigerian Ports Authority, extorting money from each truck operator in amount ranging from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand naira to gain entrance into the port to load or offload containers.
The house noted that this ugly trend has been going on unchecked for year, but became worse after the naval officers were removed from operation.
He added that the sum of sixty thousand to one hundred thousand naira were extorted when the Naval officers were in charge of the operation.
The house also noted that the unscrupulous activities of the law enforcement agents has made easy access of truck into the terminal very difficulty which is causing a lot of hardship and huge increase in the cost of doing business which inevitably lead to unrest and break down of law and by frustrated and oppressed truck operators.
The house noted that the frantic effort of the federal government to ease traffic of truck at the port was being frustrated by some people to satisfy their own selfish interest.
Concerned about the general perception, especially by importers and exporters, clearing and forwarding agents and truck operators that the problems are lingering because of the belief that the leadership of the law enforcement agencies concerned were benefiting directly or indirectly from the crises, hence, there is no incentive for to proffer enduring solution.
The House of Representatives resolved to mandate the committee on works and Housing to investigate the activities of the law enforcement agents and terminal operators at the Apapa Port with a view to finding a lasting solution to the suffering of the truck Operators at the port and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.
The House also called on the Nigerian ports Authority and the concessionaire APM Terminals(APMT) to fashion out modalities and processes that will be in conformity with international best practices on truck management at the port.
The motion moved by Fatoba to investigate unwarranted extortion of truck operators and other port users by law enforcement agents at the Apapa port was seconded by Hon Shina Peller. Hon Ndudi Elumelu proposed an amendment to the first resolution to call on Police intelligence and Ports and Harbor to investigate the matter. As an investigative motion. It was voted and amended.
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