The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho in a proactive move, has commenced interventions with other stakeholders in the port industry including the Lagos State Government and security agencies in order to avert a planned strike by the various trucking associations operating in the industry led by Association of Maritime Truck Owners AMATO.

This is with a view to ensuring that such planned strike and the resultant lockdown does not cripple operations at the nation’s seaports and further lead to disruptions in the national economy.

Recall that AMATO had recently issued a strike notice under which it threatened to direct all its members and affiliates to withdraw their trucking and other haulage services across all seaport locations in the country due to worsening extortion and attacks on truckers by touts and criminals, a development that would cripple port operations.

Speaking during a meeting he convened in Lagos, Monday, the Managing Director assured the truckers and other maritime stakeholders that efforts were being made in collaboration with the Lagos State Government and the Police High Command to address their concerns.

Dantsoho, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Engr. Olalekan Badmus said: “We will work with the Lagos State Government and the Police High Command to urgently address your concerns and prevent any disruption by a critical segment of the ports logistics value chain. The national economy cannot afford any shutdown at this time.”

The intervention led to a meeting that resulted in a communique addressing the truckers’ grievances and the suspension of the planned strike action.

The meeting was attended by Special Adviser on Transportation to the Lagos State Governor, Sola Giwa; the Lagos Commissioner of Police and Port Authority Police Command; AMATO’s National President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi; General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, Bakare Oki Olalekan; Chairperson of the Corporate Fleet Truck Owners Association, Folake Soji George; Chairman of the Lagos State Truck & Cargo Operators’ Committee LASTOC, Lukman Shittu; and leaders from NURTW, RTEAN, and other representatives across the industry.