The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving safety, reducing congestion, and enhancing efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime trucking ecosystem, pledging continued engagement with government and private sector to achieve sustainable reforms.
During the associations inauguration of its Lagos State executives and launching of a new Rescue Team held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa Lagos, recently addressed operational inefficiencies, financial leakages, and congestion challenges affecting truckers around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors in Lagos.
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The ceremony which also featured the unveiling of key operational reforms, reaffirmed AMATO’s position as a solution-driven association dedicated strictly to maritime trucking operations in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the president of the Association, chief Remi Ogungbemi, noted that “The difficulties confronting truckers today can be traced back to the planning and concessioning of the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, where insufficient attention was given to the indispensable role of trucks in port logistics.
“Trucks are the backbone of port operations. Yet, the privatisation process led to the removal of designated truck parks that were originally provided by port planners.
In the pre-concession era, indiscriminate parking of trucks along port access roads was rare due to the availability of structured parking facilities”.
In his words “Over time, the situation has deteriorated significantly. Trucking operations have become less profitable, largely due to the activities of unauthorised actors both state and non-state who exploit truckers through various means. Consequently, resources that should be allocated to maintenance and fleet renewal are diverted, leaving many trucks in unsafe and poor conditions”.
Chief Ogungbemi urged that “In line with our commitment to solutions, AMATO has identified a parcel of land with the capacity to accommodate approximately 3,500 trucks.This land presents a strategic opportunity for the development of a standard truck marshalling yard to support operations in both Apapa and Tin Can ports. We have formally presented this proposal to the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who directed the matter to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. We sincerely commend the Council for its proactive engagement convening stakeholder meetings and facilitating inspection visits to the proposed site in collaboration with the landowners. Their commitment to resolving this critical issue is highly appreciated”..
AMATO National leader said the association remains focused on identifying structural challenges within the port logistics chain and developing practical interventions rather than complaints. It stressed that trucks remain central to port evacuation operations despite persistent operational setbacks in the sector.
The association attributed many of the current inefficiencies in port trucking to the planning and concessions of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, noting that insufficient attention was given to the provision of adequate truck holding facilities during the privatization process. It argued that the removal of designated truck parks within port corridors has worsened congestion and created unsafe parking conditions along access roads.
According to AMATO, the absence of structured parking systems has significantly reduced efficiency and profitability in the trucking business, which it said has been further compounded by the activities of unauthorized operators and exploitative practices within the system.
AMATO also disclosed plans to establish a modern truck marshalling yard capable of accommodating about 3,500 trucks, as part of efforts to provide long-term solutions, to serve both Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
A major highlight of the event was the formal launch of the AMATO Rescue Team, designed to address operational breakdowns, traffic disruptions, and enforcement gaps within the port access routes.
AMATO explained that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to plug identified financial and operational leakages affecting truckers. It noted that such leakages have weakened operators’ capacity to maintain vehicles, leading to deteriorating truck conditions and safety concerns on Nigerian roads.
The Rescue Team will operate with support tools including motorbikes, communication gadgets, and towing assistance in collaboration with the National Towing Vehicle Owners Association, pending acquisition of AMATO-owned tow trucks.
The association commended the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for its continuous role in clearing broken-down trucks and managing congestion along key routes in Lagos, particularly around the port axis.
Representatives of security and safety agencies present at the event, including the Ports Authority Police Command and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), also praised the initiative, describing it as timely and critical to national economic stability.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between truckers and enforcement agencies to ensure smoother port operations and improved safety standards.
Other industry stakeholders, including representatives of transport unions and freight operators, expressed support for AMATO’s initiatives, noting the importance of synergy in resolving long-standing port logistics challenges.
Speakers at the event also raised concerns about container size mismatches, driver orientation gaps, and operational inefficiencies in the maritime transport sector, calling for sustained training, regulation, and compliance enforcement.
They emphasized that many of the challenges in the sector stem from a lack of structured education for truck operators and called for periodic training programmes to improve professionalism and safety.
AMATO urged continued collaboration with key institutions such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), noting their regulatory roles in ensuring efficiency across port operations.
The association also acknowledged the contributions of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, freight forwarders under various associations, terminal operators, and shipping companies, describing them as critical stakeholders in sustaining Nigeria’s import and export logistics chain.
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