- Truckers Unveil Rapid Response Team to Ease Apapa, Tin Can Gridlock
- Inaugurates New State Executives
- Deploy Rescue Squad to Improve Port Efficiency
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has unveiled a rapid response rescue team and sworn in new state executives in a move aimed at tackling persistent safety and operational challenges affecting truck movement around Lagos ports.
Eko Hot Blog reports that at the event, AMATO National President, Remi Ogungbemi, said the initiative signals a shift toward practical, solution-oriented reforms in a sector long burdened by inefficiencies, financial pressure and regulatory gaps.
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He explained that the newly launched rescue team will collaborate with traffic and enforcement agencies to remove broken-down trucks and fallen containers from port access roads, a recurring issue contributing to congestion and delays. The team will be equipped with communication tools and motorbikes, while also working with the National Towing Vehicle Owners Association pending the rollout of AMATO’s own towing units.
According to Ogungbemi, the intervention is designed to complement the efforts of agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Vehicle Inspection Service, all of which play key roles in maintaining order on Lagos roads.
He, however, pointed to deeper structural issues behind the long-standing trucking crisis, tracing it to the planning and concessioning of Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port. According to him, inadequate consideration for truck logistics during port privatisation led to the removal of designated truck parks, forcing vehicles onto access roads and worsening gridlock.
Ogungbemi also highlighted the growing financial strain on operators, blaming systemic leakages and exploitative practices for declining profitability and poor fleet maintenance.
“Trucking is no longer as profitable as it used to be. What should go into maintaining trucks is lost to multiple layers of exploitation,” he said.
To address infrastructure gaps, AMATO has proposed a standard truck marshalling yard with the capacity to accommodate about 3,500 trucks serving both ports. The proposal has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and forwarded to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for consideration.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Western Command, Toyin Agbaminoja, described the initiative as a significant step toward improving safety, emergency response and operational order within the port environment. She noted that better coordination among stakeholders would help address emerging challenges.
Similarly, the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kehinde Hamzat, announced plans to begin strict enforcement against the movement of unlatched containers on Lagos roads from May 2026.
He said the measure is aimed at reducing accidents linked to unstable cargo and improving road safety, adding that the FRSC is exploring a strategic partnership with AMATO to ensure effective implementation.
Hamzat also urged the newly inaugurated executives to demonstrate strong leadership, discipline and commitment in addressing the challenges within the sector.
