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| AMATO Chairman, Chief Remi Ogungbemi |
Truck drivers and their assistants who operate
under the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) will henceforth enjoy
the comfort of a convenient resting place during their break hours, rather than
remain in their trucks all day.
The development is as a result of the
association’s new secretariat close to the Apapa port gate, which has a large
sitting area and fitted with conveniences for refreshment.
association’s new secretariat close to the Apapa port gate, which has a large
sitting area and fitted with conveniences for refreshment.
Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said in
an interview that the new secretariat was part of efforts at sanitising the
work environment that the truck drivers and their motor boys operate.
an interview that the new secretariat was part of efforts at sanitising the
work environment that the truck drivers and their motor boys operate.
He noted that this category of workers had for
long operated under very harsh conditions where they had to remain inside their
trucks even during their break periods.
long operated under very harsh conditions where they had to remain inside their
trucks even during their break periods.
He said the unfriendly condition, especially for
the motor boys, who had to remain on the streets while the drivers went into
the port, was discomforting and dehumanising to them.
the motor boys, who had to remain on the streets while the drivers went into
the port, was discomforting and dehumanising to them.
“The vision is to bring professionalism into the
business, so that we will not continue to operate the way we had been doing
over 40 years ago.
business, so that we will not continue to operate the way we had been doing
over 40 years ago.
“As you
can see, presently, there are trucks queuing on the road for several days; the
drivers of the trucks will not eat well, will not sleep well, they will not
even take their bath.
can see, presently, there are trucks queuing on the road for several days; the
drivers of the trucks will not eat well, will not sleep well, they will not
even take their bath.
“The motor boys are hanging around the port gate
because there is a law forbidding them from going into the port with their
drivers. So, they will remain under the sun, under the rain,” Ogungbemi said.
because there is a law forbidding them from going into the port with their
drivers. So, they will remain under the sun, under the rain,” Ogungbemi said.
According to the AMATO Chairman, it is hoped
that the initiative would help make today’s motor boy a better and more polite
driver tomorrow, since they graduate into drivers after successfully serving
the drivers.
that the initiative would help make today’s motor boy a better and more polite
driver tomorrow, since they graduate into drivers after successfully serving
the drivers.
He said that besides serving as a resting place
for the drivers and their assistants, the secretariat would also enable them
organise refresher trainings to get them more cautious while on the roads.
for the drivers and their assistants, the secretariat would also enable them
organise refresher trainings to get them more cautious while on the roads.
He said the association was also considering
having the secretariat as a centre where the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC)could come and issue driver’s licences to their members for easy
administration.
having the secretariat as a centre where the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC)could come and issue driver’s licences to their members for easy
administration.
“We will be inviting the Vehicle Inspection
Officers, the Federal Road Safety Corps here, so that they can come and train
these people.
Officers, the Federal Road Safety Corps here, so that they can come and train
these people.
“It is also my wish that instead of truck
drivers going to far distance to obtain their genuine license, we have been
talking with the authorities of the FRSC, if they can allow a centre to be
brought.
drivers going to far distance to obtain their genuine license, we have been
talking with the authorities of the FRSC, if they can allow a centre to be
brought.
“The centre will be exclusively for truck
drivers to be obtaining their driver’s licenses here, so that they will not go
and patronise fakes, they will not have the challenges that some of them are
having.
drivers to be obtaining their driver’s licenses here, so that they will not go
and patronise fakes, they will not have the challenges that some of them are
having.
“So, we have these plans in place to create an
enabling environment so that they will have a place to enjoy their work and for
the upcoming generation of drivers too.”
enabling environment so that they will have a place to enjoy their work and for
the upcoming generation of drivers too.”
On the association’s quest to have Lilypond
Container Terminal as a transit park, Ogungbemi said the association had yet
received a reply to its letter written to the concessionaires of the terminal.
Container Terminal as a transit park, Ogungbemi said the association had yet
received a reply to its letter written to the concessionaires of the terminal.
He said the association had requested for a
portion of the terminal for trucks going to do business with AP Molar, while
they also looked forward to a response from the Nigerian Ports Authority, as
the landlord of the facility.
portion of the terminal for trucks going to do business with AP Molar, while
they also looked forward to a response from the Nigerian Ports Authority, as
the landlord of the facility.
