Truck drivers, police clash at Tin Can port over alleged extortion

There was pandemonium at the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) yesterday as truck drivers operating at the port refused to work over alleged extortion by security officials including Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and the military operatives attached to the Lagos Task on Traffic Control.

Trouble started when some Police officials fired teargas at the truck drivers where they gathered at the port asking them to leave the port gate.

These infuriated the truck drivers in turn pelted the security operatives with bottles and sachet waters.

Speaking to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, one of the truck drivers, Alfa Ahmed Kazeem said the security operatives extort money from them before allowing them drive into the port.

“We spend about N8,000 before we can access and exit the port on a daily basis. We have however decided to down tool to show our grievances,” he said.

As at the time of filing these reports, the leaders of the truck drivers and were in a closed-door meeting with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) officials with a view to resolving the face-off.



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