The Council of Maritime Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has raised an alarm over the taking over of haulage businesses in Nigeria by foreigners.
Raising the alarm in a statement, COMTU’s President,  Comrade Yinka Aroyewun, said most of the trucks belonging to the foreign companies for haulage business are painted in military colours and driven by military personnel.
Assuring that his COMTUA will work to reverse the trend, Aroyewun said the present development amounts to injustice to truckers in Nigeria.
He stated that, “It is also disheartening to see that foreign transport companies whose trucks are painted in military colors and driven by personnel of the Nigerian Army are being favored over small indigenous ones.
“This is a clear injustice, and it is having a negative impact on our businesses and our livelihoods.
“The false claims of low fees on booking call-ups, the increase in turnaround time, and the continuous extortion on the port access road are all issues that we have been grappling with for some time now.
“These are serious problems that must be addressed if we are to have a thriving and successful industry.
“I understand that many of us have lost jobs to foreign companies and military trucks, and this is a deeply concerning trend that we must work together to reverse.
“We must demand fairness and equity in the industry, and we must hold those responsible for these injustices accountable.
“I want to assure you that the National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP) is fully committed to supporting our businesses, and we will continue to work together to find ways to overcome the challenges that we are facing.
“I am confident that together we can find solutions that will allow us to continue to provide essential services to our communities while also ensuring that our businesses remain viable and sustainable.

“While we wallow in loss of revenue, job loss, shrinking financial status, and suffer attacks and humiliation in the hands of both state and non-state actors in the course of our jobs, officials of NPA and TTP are celebrating Three years of fraudulent and inefficient call up regime.

“We are disturbed and actually have every reason to be. However, our legal team have concluded plans to seek redress on this and we are confident victory shall be ours.

“I shall also use this medium to alley the fears of our members concerning the proposed illegal ‘Harmonised Ticket’, or check up dues intended by the illegal Lagos State Transport and Cargo Committee (LASTCOC) and the fraudulent collaboration of NARTO, MWUN and an ill-fated group called  Nexus Maritime Transport Operators.

“Their entire plan is intended to increase the sufferings of our members, especially when those involved have no legitimate stand for what they intend to do and have no moral value within the trucking society for any reasonable project.

“We have commenced a legal process against LASTCOC and Lagos State Government in suit LD/7859GCM/2024 and same is on course against others in the ‘collaboration to defraud truckers’”.