By Oluwabunmi Ogunjimi
Trucking unions and associations operating in the maritime sector have petitioned authorities over the activities of the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operations Committee (LASTCOC), alleging that the committee, led by Lukman Shittu, has continued toll collection along the port corridors despite a police directive against the practice.
In a petition against LASTCOC, signed by the National President of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, the association alleged that LASTCOC had illegally established multiple toll collection points, checkpoints and roadblocks on highways and roads leading to the ports and other parts of Lagos State.
COMTUA specifically cited the Ikorodu, Coconut, Sunrise, Tin Can, Mile 2, Ijora and Lilypond axes, alleging that its members were being forced to pay a daily toll of ₦3,000 per truck.
Aroyewun stated that the action was in direct violation of the Federal Government’s directive prohibiting toll collection, illegal checkpoints and extortion on federal highways, as part of efforts to advance the Tax Reform and Ease of Doing Business policies championed by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
Part of the petition reads:”LASTCOC has illegally mounted multiple toll collection points, checkpoints and roadblocks on the highways and roads leading to the Ports and within Lagos State, particularly at Ikorodu, Coconut, Sunrise, TinCan, Mile 2, Ijora, and Lilypond axis, where they forcefully collect tolls of a #3,000 daily per truck from our members.
“LASTCOC has also flagrantly violated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on behalf of all truckers on the 9th day of September, 2024 by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and a Consortium of Trucking Associations, with Hon. Shola Giwa, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Transportation, and Engr. Olalekan Badmus, the Executive Director, Marine and Operations of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as witnesses.
“In that MoU, it was agreed that no Committee, Union or Association shall collect any levy or mount any checkpoint on the port corridor, and that truck movement and enforcement shall be solely under the ETO Call-Up system managed by NPA and the Lagos State Government.
“Despite the said MoU and despite the clear directives of the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command at a peace meeting convened at his instance on 30th September, 2026 where all parties agreed not to operate or collect levies on the port corridor, LASTCOC has continued to disobey and operate with impunity.
“LASTCOC operatives, who are mostly thugs armed with dangerous weapons, are causing serious road obstruction by blocking the highway to enforce their illegal toll, harassing, intimidating, beating and assaulting non-complying members of COMTUA, deflating tyres and vandalizing side-mirrors, windscreens and other parts of our members’ trucks. Several of our trucks have been damaged in the last 72 hours.
“Their action is causing serious traffic gridlock, economic sabotage, and is capable of leading to a breach of public peace and total breakdown of law and order on the port access roads, as our members are becoming restive and may resort to self-help if the Police does not act.
“In view of the above, we most respectfully pray to the Commissioner of Police to cause a thorough investigation into this petition and urgently dismantle all illegal toll collection points and checkpoints mounted by LASTCOC on the highways and port access roads;
“Arrest and prosecute the leaders and operatives of LASTCOC for extortion, impersonation, obstruction of highway, harassment, intimidation and malicious damage and provide adequate Police protection for COMTUA members and their trucks against harassment and vandalism by LASTCOC.”
