…Call On Lagos and Ogun state governors to intervene
Owners and Drivers of Trailers and Tippers operating between Ogun state And Lagos state have rejected the newly introduced 3000 and 1000 24-Hour Truck Tickets by the Lagos State Truck And Cargo Operators Committee(LASTCOC).
This was made known at a joint press briefing held on Tuesday 11th November in abeokuta by the three aggrieved associations namely, First Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association led by Chief Nureni Ogunsola, New Born Tipper Lorry Owners and Drivers Association led by Tajudeen Adeoye Ajowa Tipper Lorry Drivers Owners led by Kamoru Amoo. The members of the affected Associations are operating between Ogun and Lagos States corridors
Speaking on behalf of others, the National chairman, New Born Tipper Lorry Owners and Drivers Association, Tajudeen Adeoye explained that the union has already been over burdened with several levies right from the point of loading to the point of offloading and have also been paying 1500 as levy to Lagos state government prior the the newly introduced fee. He maintained that the fresh toll could send them out of business if not withdrawn.
He posited that the union was informed of the new payment on 3rd of November while collection and enforcement started on the 6th of November without listening to their reactions.
Mr Tajudeen lamented the recklessness and inappropriate manner in which members of the LASTCOC harass their associations’ members which sometimes left the drivers and other occupants injured and in most cases destroyed their trucks.
He expressed worries over Lagos state government handing over the collection of the new levy to LASTCOC describing it as unacceptable because those who are collecting the fee are the same people responsible for the collection of dues from commercial tricyclists in Lagos.
The chairman said members of the Association have enough problems to contend with from vehicle maintenance to multiple levies from government agencies.
The three associations according to the national chairman have always been contributing to the economic development of both Lagos and Ogun stated through prompt payment of legitimate levies and renewal of vehicle documents with little or no benefits from the governments.
According to him “We are . The three Associations are: First Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association, New Born Tipper Lorry Owners and Drivers Association and Ajowa Tipper Lorry Drivers Owners Association operating between Ogun State and Lagos States.
“Today’s briefing is at the instance of the new ticket and Levy introduced by
LAGOS STATE TRUCK AND CARGO OPERATORS COMMITTEE(LASTCOC).
“LASTCOC wrote a letter to us about Lagos State Government Harmonized 24-Hour Truck Ticket and to eliminate multiple toll collections imposed on truck operators across the State.
“As the owner and drivers association of the tippers and lorries, my appeal to both Lagos and Ogun State government, because we operate in both states is to rise up to our appeal as the ticket being introduced to us is on the high side, before this new one, there is one of ₦1,500, that one started with ₦200, go up to ₦500, again to ₦1,000 and now ₦1,500, and we have been taking that, we first agitate, no help from both sides and at end of the day, we succumbed to it.
“But this new one again, another ₦3,000 for truck, ₦1,000 for tipper is very high and this present situation of this country in this hardship that everyone of us are trying to manage ourselves to survive, so for having this new one, we, the association together with members, we reject it, we cannot and we are law abiding citizens, we don’t want chaos, we don’t want any crisis to happen in between the two states and the whole Nigeria”.
“We want to appeal to the Governors of the two states to prevail on LASTCOC to avoid clashes and ensure a better life for both owners and drivers.”
While also speaking on the issue of negotiation with the state governments, following the increment of levy, President of First Nigeria Tippers Association, Chief Ogunsola, said that there is no need for any negotiation with anyone because the ticket was passed to the association through a non-member, and this was done with force.
He said, “When we are not gathering these things in Lagos, we are just selling it there, and those purchasing it from us are not purchasing foods, that we will now force them to eat it.
“So having collected ₦3,000 from us on the road and where we gathered these things, we also pay VAT there, and so therefore, there is one we do pay ₦1,500 for before, which was accepted, this is another ₦3,000, so we don’t need to negotiate with anyone but to look into this issue critically. We won’t take it, it does not pay us, all the money we laboured for are spent on purchase of diesel
