In line with its port modernisation and legitimate trade facilitation, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has urged its top hierarchy to call its personnel at the ports to order over allegations of extortion levelled against them by members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).
It also advised the truck operators to operate within the rules and not tempt the police stationed at the entrance to the port with bribe.
The Apapa Port Manager, Mr. Anas Nasir, disclosed this in Lagos Tuesday, shortly after a meeting of NPA and AMATO. The port manager said the leadership of AMATO had also been advised to discourage its members from offering money to security operatives at the gate to allow them jump the queue.
“We talked to the police to warn its operatives at the gate to desist from any act of extortion from the drivers. We also told AMATO to warn its members against inducing the extortion, considering that some of them offer money to the security men to enable them go ahead of others into the port,” he said.
The Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said the meeting ended well but noted that some issues still needed to be addressed.
“We have discussed but the issues are not totally resolved because it is not easy to be solved once at a go. But I appreciate the efforts of NPA at ensuring that there is peace for our operations to go on well,” Ogungbemi said.
He added that the association has advised its members to stop offering money to security operatives who might want to take advantage of the situation they were creating.
The AMATO Chairman pointed out that resolving the issue would take time but urged the NPA to remain an unbiased umpire, especially in a situation the drivers refuse to give bribe.
Recall that the truck drivers at Apapa port staged a peaceful protest on September 17 over alleged extortion by security operatives at the port gate before allowing them into the port.

NPA warns against bribery, extortion