Protest Against Bad Governance: NAMTOP to join protest, laments over double taxation on truckers by Lagos State government

Stanley Ihedigbo

National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP), has announced their readiness to join the national protest in Nigeria to demand an end to bad governance and lamented over double taxation on truckers by the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Transport.

The group said that as an association that represents the interests of truckers and other maritime transport operators in the country, they  have seen firsthand the negative impact of bad governance on our members and the economy at large.

According to the National President, National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP), Com.  Adeyinka Aroyewun, they are particularly concerned about the imposition of a harmonized daily ticket on truckers through Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Committee (LASTCOC) in addition to Wharf Landing Fees, charging truckers for minimum safety standards by the Nigerian Ports Authority annually in addition to heavy-duty permits, road worthiness, etc., and charging for call-up to the port in addition to taxes to do business as Nigerians is unacceptable.

“Furthermore, we are protesting against extortion on roads by both state and non-state actors, (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), police, unions, and area boys), indiscriminate arrest and impoundment of trucks by LASTMA, and issuance of arbitrary penalties. We are also concerned about the insecurity of our members on the road during the movement of cargo.

“We wish to state categorically that our protest shall be peaceful and in line with the laws of the land. We believe that as responsible citizens, we have a right to demand good governance and accountability from our leaders.

We, therefore, call on all our members, other transport operators, and well-meaning Nigerians to join us in this peaceful protest to send a strong message to our leaders that enough is enough”, he stressed.