By Godfrey Bivbere
Lagos State government has suspended the implementation of the controversial law restricting container laden trucks from moving on the roads within the state from 6am to 9pm.
Vanguard gathered that the state government had made attempts to commence the implementation of the law a few weeks back, but truckers resisted the move by withdrawing their services.
Vanguard also gathered that the action resulted in build up of containers at the port which led to the intervention of the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that went to meet with the state government on the issue.
Confirming this to Vanguard, Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said the state government actually wanted to implement the new law which restricts the movement of container laden trucks to between 9pm to 6am, but it was resisted by AMATO members until the management of NPA intervened.
Ogungbemi said a stakeholders’ meeting was convened by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, where it was agreed that the problem being a national one should be handled at that level.
He said that the meeting called by the Minister had all the various stakeholders from Terminal Operators, NPA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), all the truckers associations e.t.c in attendance.
He also disclosed that they recently held a meeting with the state government, where the governor, Babatunde Fashola, told them that it is his duty to implement all laws by the State Assembly.
The various truckers associations, AMATO, National Association of Truck Owners (NATO), Coalition of Seaport Truckers (COST) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) recently met to expressed their concern over the security implication of the implementation of the new law.
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