Kayode ShopekanTHE Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has asked the Federal Government to help its members to replace old trucks by providing loan.
Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemile, said “The issue of trucks blocking half of the road has been on for a long time and our cry has been that government should give us soft loans that we can use to get trucks that can carry all heavy containers.”
According to Ogungbemile, most of the truck owners depend on foreign truck manufacturers to renew their fleet.
“If these trucks develop any fault while carrying products, the owner might not easily get the spare parts in the country, which will definitely cause congestion on the road. We are now using this medium to beg the government to empower us with soft loans that can enable us buy efficient trucks,” he said.
Traffic Manager of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Jubril Buba, also stated that the government had not provided space to serve as holding area for towed trucks.
“This is the major problem leading to the regular chaos experienced on the road to the port. It is indeed appalling that we are still experiencing issues like these and it boils down to the fact that we are not provided space to accommodate rickety trucks even if we successfully tow them. To tow them is not an issue but the space,” he said.
Read also: Amid Calls For His Impeachment, Lalong Vows To Bring Perpetrators Of Plateau Killings To Book
Follow Us