Chief Remi Ogungbemi, Chairman of
the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has called on all parties
involved in the haulage chain to consider safety first, to guide against
incidences of falling containers.
the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has called on all parties
involved in the haulage chain to consider safety first, to guide against
incidences of falling containers.
In an interview on Thursday in
Lagos, Ogungbemi spoke on the backdrop of a loaded container that fell off a
truck in Apapa on Wednesday afternoon and expressed worry over the frequency of
the incidences.
Lagos, Ogungbemi spoke on the backdrop of a loaded container that fell off a
truck in Apapa on Wednesday afternoon and expressed worry over the frequency of
the incidences.
“This has been happening and we are
not happy at all when a cargo is not delivered to its destination safely.
not happy at all when a cargo is not delivered to its destination safely.
“But a lot can be done if everyone
involved in the operation gets more safety-conscious,” he said.
involved in the operation gets more safety-conscious,” he said.
He hoped that latest efforts in
rehabilitation of the roads within the port city would reduce the incidence of
containers falling.
rehabilitation of the roads within the port city would reduce the incidence of
containers falling.
The incidence created a traffic gridlock
in Apapa, leaving commuters and motorists alike stranded for hours into the
evening.
in Apapa, leaving commuters and motorists alike stranded for hours into the
evening.
It would be recalled that while
similar situation persisted earlier in 2014, Ogungbemi spoke, attributing the
incessant falling –off of loaded containers from trucks to overloading and bad
roads.
similar situation persisted earlier in 2014, Ogungbemi spoke, attributing the
incessant falling –off of loaded containers from trucks to overloading and bad
roads.
He blamed the deplorable state of
the roads, saying the conditions had made trucking of containers a very
dangerous business on the high ways across the nation.
the roads, saying the conditions had made trucking of containers a very
dangerous business on the high ways across the nation.
According to him, an investigation
by AMATO showed that recorded incidences came from rickety and dilapidated
truck.
by AMATO showed that recorded incidences came from rickety and dilapidated
truck.
Ogungbemi also said identified the
absence of weigh bridges at loading points as a great danger to the haulage
operations.
absence of weigh bridges at loading points as a great danger to the haulage
operations.
According to him, “a lot of
containers are falling off trucks because there are no regulations. Some trucks
are not supposed to carry more than 10 tons but you see them carrying between
20 and 30 tons.
containers are falling off trucks because there are no regulations. Some trucks
are not supposed to carry more than 10 tons but you see them carrying between
20 and 30 tons.
“Such containers will definitely
fall off, but it is not the fault of the truck owner because there are no
weighbridges to weigh the containers,” he said.
fall off, but it is not the fault of the truck owner because there are no
weighbridges to weigh the containers,” he said.
He also faulted the attitudes of
some clients for declaring false weight in order to pay less for the goods they
want to transport.
some clients for declaring false weight in order to pay less for the goods they
want to transport.
“The truck customers also
contribute to the problem because they want to pay less.
contribute to the problem because they want to pay less.
“They present papers to say it is a
light load, but by the time the truck is loaded you will discover it is
different from their claim,” he said.
light load, but by the time the truck is loaded you will discover it is
different from their claim,” he said.
He promised that the association
would work to ensure effective regulations for improvement.
would work to ensure effective regulations for improvement.
