Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association, COMTUA, yesterday said that it had to call off its planned withdrawal of service from the nation’s ports following threats by hoodlums to hijack the protest.
In a statement, President of COMTUA, Comrade Adeyinka Aroyewun, said that the group got intelligence that some hoodlums have been paid to disrupt and hijack the protest adding that the group had to re-strategize.
Aroyewun also said that COMTUA held an extra ordinary meeting in the early hours of yesterday when it noticed that the Military has begun to comply with the process and procedure of entering and exiting the ports to load cargoes.
Parts of the statement by the Council reads: “At an Extra ordinary leadership meeting of COMTUA held in the early hours of today, the following resolution were reached.
“That an assessment of the activities of the military trucks on the road in the last one week shows, that they have started complying with the time belt and they no longer drive against traffic.
“That the association shall continue to engage relevant government agencies on issues affecting the industry.
‘‘That the association shall look into other options to legally engage NPA and TTP on the extortive regime of the electronic call up.
‘‘That the collaboration shall partner with other stakeholders on the road to reduce the cost of movement on the road.
“After a critical consideration of the decline in the business activities around the Port area, it is considered in the interest of our members and the nation that the proposed protest and withdrawal of service be suspended.
“Members of COMTUA are advised to go about their normal businesses peacefully, while the leadership of the association is assuring every member of our resolve to find a lasting solution into the problems confronting our members in the industry.”
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