Truck drivers on Thursday began to withdraw their services from the ports in protest over the restriction of their movements to the night-time by the Lagos State Government.
Following an accident involving a container truck which claimed three lives at Ojuelegba, the Lagos State Government announced the restriction of truck movement within the metropolis to between 9pm – 6am.
Truck drivers under the aegis of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners and National Association of Road Truck Owners said that they would withdraw their trucks from the road with immediate effect over the restriction directive.
Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, sais that it was difficult for members to comply with the state directive on the restriction due to security reasons.
He said, “This is why we have decided to withdraw our services with immediate effect until normalcy returns. The state policy restricting trucks movement to the night would be hard to comply with because the safety of our trucks, drivers and the cargoes cannot be guaranteed.
“Hijackers are hijacking trucks with goods till date. So, if we move at night, hijacking will become more rampant.”
Ogungbemi added that the warehouses and factories where the cargoes are discharged by the truck drivers don’t operate at night. He said no place had been earmarked by the state government to serve as a park for truck drivers.
He said, “There is no designated truck park where we can stay until we can be allowed to move. All these infrastructures have to be put in place before they can start implementing such a policy. As it is, the current situation will have a negative effect on the economy of the nation.”
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, had on Sunday said the movement of trucks between 9pm and 6am contravened Section 2 (i) (ii) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law and vowed that erring drivers would be summarily dealt with.
Whenu said, “The state government will henceforth go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that contravened the law, as such vehicle will be impounded and made to pay the stipulated fine accordingly.”
The section of the state traffic law bars trailers from travelling within the Lagos metropolis between 6am and 9pm. It states that “any driver found contravening the provisions of this section shall have his vehicle impounded by a duly authorised officer of the authority and shall upon conviction be liable to a fine of N50,000 or a term of imprisonment for six months or both.”
Punch reportage
So they fear for their own lives BUT drive trucks that pose a risk to other Lives abi?They can go on strike for all i care....hisss!
These people are insane. So they prefer safety of trucks to lives. I don't blame them Na government wey no build rails for them to move these heavy items. And they stay and compete with cars for right of way. In any sane country, trucks move at designated times. They are not seen on the roads everytime.
ReplyDeleteIf u see the speed oando tanker driver used @ masha just now.. they wl never learn oo. one needs to be prayerful wen leaving the house
DeleteAll they need is tracking device
DeleteThey are on strike
DeleteThey seem to have a good point, I think what the government should do is make sure these trucks are healthy and road worthy before entering the roads.
ReplyDeleteYour comment will be visible after approval
Murderers. When they get too hungry, they will resume work. Wicked people that have no respect for human lives.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly. Hunger never mama dem
DeleteThey want to blackmail Lagos State with that action.
DeleteWhat are they waiting for. The chairman talk too much. I will help them to pack the trucks self.
ReplyDeleteMurderers. When they get too hungry, they will resume work. Wicked people that have no respect for human lives.
ReplyDeleteI understand where this people are coming from. People say that in the developed world, truck drivers move at night, which is not so true because they move even in the day time. But then, in the developed countries, the reason why they move at night is because security is Max. Nigerian govt will just be making rules without thinking twice. Notwithstanding, the lives these trucks have claimed is one too many. The reason being that the drivers are incompetent and the trucks they drive aren't road worthy, the roads are also not good. Dear Government, tackle the substance and stop chasing the shadow.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
make them get out
ReplyDelete#GODWIN™
Though I agree the decision was hasty, but STFU Mr. Chairman! Where were you to comment when one of your prople KILLED 3 PEOPLE???!!! Did you talk about improved safety measures? Did you send a statement of condolence to the bereaved??! Selfish fool! Gerrarahia mayne!!!
ReplyDeleteThey have been killing people since 1900 while coming out unhurt. Now they aRe talking trash.
DeleteThey should gerrarahia mehn shit!!!!
Mr oluseyi whenu should shut that hole he calls a mouth.
ReplyDeleteWe will go hard on any defaulter and any driver found contravening d provision of ds section would have his truck impounded...Story!!!
Truck drivers are still seen plying d road and nothing has been done about it.
As for dem going on strike...dey should commence immediately sef. Good riddance to bad rubbish
Yes, i think the govt shld provide adequate infrastructure in place before banning
ReplyDeleteabi make una go rest abeg!
ReplyDeleteMtceeeeew! Shoroniyen??? So goods are more important dan pple's lives.... Thunder fire dia yansh!
ReplyDeleteLike we care.worefa,so the next thing for them is to stop moving cos of restriction?Can't they state their needs to the government? rather they stopped moving n then give reasons for stopping.
ReplyDeleteDont mind the idiots ,they drive anyhow killing people and now they fear for their lives ,selfish smelly things ,Lagos state Government should stick to that time.no going back
ReplyDeleteThey should do he needful. Life has no duplicate.
ReplyDeleteSafety of ur trucks u say??? What abt dose dt lost deir life.U are a big joke!!
ReplyDeleteWhy must government do everything for them. Why can't they contribute to buy land and create a motor park for themselves and provide their own security there. This is all part of running a logistics business. People just expect government to do everything for them. Eddie Stobart in the UK does this, they provide rest stops for their drivers in a secure environment.
ReplyDeleteGod..wat a waste
ReplyDeleteThis truck drivers enjoy sucking blood
ReplyDeleteThe reason why government implemented this ban is because they are killing people everyday. Instead of them to work on maintaining their trailers and making it safe for the public, they are withdrawing their services. Talk about misplaced priorities and indiscipline that is killing Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteIt's d usual Nigerian problem, putting d cart before d horse. Roads r not safe from robbers yet u expect them to drive @ night. Why not sort that out first ehn? Or better still why do dey not inspect these trucks n ensure they are Road worthy? Put speed limiters on them so dey can't drive past a certain speed??? Gosh! This country tires me sometimes. God help us mbok
ReplyDeleteSince they are afraid of their lives, they should use the system Americans use in transporting wide loads or oversized goods on trucks.
ReplyDeleteThey us pilot cars or escort cars.
That means One car at the front and another at the back of the truck guiding away other motorists until they get to their final destination.
On which road system??! So they can cause ridiculous traffic ehn?
DeleteNa wa o. When they keep driving dead beat trucks killing people indiscriminately, they are here talking of strike. God help Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine what this man is saying. If he said the government should put in place safety measures like securities and armed escorts for them we can understand. But withdrawing theory services in protest is nonsense
ReplyDeleteI support u jaree SDK dey can go on strike 4 hell sake cus dey ar only tinkin of dem selves alone puttin all oda road users @ risk, if dere brake no fail 2day dere tyres wil remove on motion 2morow causing fatal accidents dat mostly claims pple's lives. Mtcheeeeeeeew I hate trucks/long trailers wit passion
ReplyDeleteNonsense and ingredients. Greedy mofos, money won't let them witdraw, akuko
ReplyDeleteLagos state government was left with no option than to ban your blood sucking asses from moving around during the day. The havoc and tragedy you cause on the road is no longer acceptable.
ReplyDeleteIf you all can not secure your trucks and adhere to the necessary health and safety measures before using the roads then you should be banned not only during the day but also at night.
Whirlwind
They should do the needful. Life has no duplicate.
ReplyDeleteJust negodu!
ReplyDeleteThey should go and lie on expressways.
Imagine the shameless temerity!
Only in Nigeria.
In how many countries do heavy duty vehicles ply the highways during the day, or on the same roads with of road users?
Instead of asking for more patrolmen on the roads during those hours, they are busy advocating to commit more murders.
Werey!
That's because they always escape unscathed from accidents they cause.
How many times have I read about containers being hijacked?
How possible is that?
Abi they've seen too much action movies.
Mtchewww
They should protest for two weeks, and see who will be affected, meanwhile the serious ones will go behind their backs and render their services to those who need them.
Hissssssssssssss
#WhiteDiamondOut
Make them strike na. Who dem help? Hiss
ReplyDeleteThis decision will never work in nigeria especially lagos, so u mean someone that is bring cattle or tomatoes from the north will wait outside lagos till night fall b4 entering the town? Who will offload such trucks at night? This is will cause a hike in truck prices and will affect goods in the market...and you peeps will be the once to complain that food has increase tremendously...
ReplyDeleteI am with you on this Alloy Chikezie et al. Govt should pull the hair from the root, the trailers should be checked from the port to be sure they are road-worthy, even as they go. Their plying the roads from 7pm/9pm does not solve d problem, don't Lagos residents and others still move around at this time?
ReplyDeleteGod forbid, but what if another mishap happens at 11pm, should they be barred from using d roads at all?
Our leaders should be proactive pls......Mrs. Eunice
This ppl are not serious at all, so everything government must provide? So they cannot use their own money to buy land and also provide their own security, they prefer trucks to human.
ReplyDeleteThey av killed enough. Strike or no strike, who cares?
ReplyDeleteMay God Save Us, Please My Fellow Nigerians Click on this link and you can be self Employed on the Internet, A trial will convince You http://jobrize.com/index.php?ref=177095
ReplyDeleteMost of the drivers r blood suckers!!!
ReplyDeleteStory for the gods. What is strike to compare with peoples life? Let them start immediately o, we can't afford loosing precious lives in the hand of this ogogoro/indian hemp drivers.
ReplyDeleteIN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES MAJORITY OF CARGO IS MOVED BY CARGO TRAINs. SECONDLY IT IS PREFERABLE TO TRAVEL AT NIGHT,IT IS SAFE AND THEIR IS LESS TRAFFIC EVEN FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT DRIVE TRUCKS
ReplyDelete