Gridlock: Reps move to probe alleged extortion at Lagos ports

ABUJA—Worried by the continued gridlock and other traffic challenges in Apapa Port axis, the House of Representatives, Thursday, resolved to investigate an alleged extortion of truck drivers by the terminal security operatives.

The House believed that the extortion was responsible for the traffic challenges as operatives delayed the movement of truck drivers who refused to give gratification.

The House took the resolution consequent upon a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Investigate the unwarranted Extortion of Truck Operators and other Port users by Law Enforcement Agents at Apapa Port”, moved at the plenary by Olusola Steve Fatoba from Ekiti State.

Moving the motion, Fatoba, alleged that truck operators pay as high as N200,000 to N300,000 to gain access into the port.

He said: “The House notes that the Apapa Port in Lagos has been enmeshed in crisis and traffic gridlock over a long time which led to the establishment of a Presidential Task Team to restore law and order on the roads leading to the nation’s seaports.

“The House also notes that a team of law enforcement agents comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and others are at the Port to maintain law and order and control vehicular movement in and out of the Port, particularly, movement of trucks going in to load and unload containers at the Port;