The current charges of N80,000 for freight within Lagos and N130,000 for freight outside Lagos currently being charged by seaport truckers under the aegis of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) is set to change following the decision of the truckers to adjust their freight rates to conform with the present realities on ground.
Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively in Lagos, Chairman of AMATO, Chief Demi Ogungbemi explained that in a weeks time, truckers will start charging N150,000 for destinations within Lagos and N200,000 above for destination outside Lagos.
According to him, “we are currently holding meetings and consultation among ourselves and we are set to effect changes in the amount of freights our members charge importers for carrying containers to locations within and outside Lagos.
“We are compelled to do this to reflect the current realities on ground. We currently pay N10,000 to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as part of the agency’s truck standardisation registration.
“Aside this, we also pay so much to ensure our trucks meet up with this minimum standard requirement even when the roads are so bad. The bad ports access roads causes more harm to our trucks and 100 percent of money we spend on maintenance is because of the state of the roads.
“Again, diesel is now N300 per litre. Add to this is the N45,000 per truck being demanded by the Federal Road Safety Corporation (FRSC) as part of its speed limiter requirements and other road traffic regulations.
“So very soon, in a matter of weeks, we will be reviewing our freight charges. Normally, we charge between N70,000 to N80,000 to destinations within Lagos and N120,000 to N130,000 outside Lagos, all subject to weight and distance.
“However, after our meetings, we expect all destinations within Lagos to attract nothing less than N150,000 as freight charges. It is long overdue but I can tell you that the changes will take effect within the next one or two weeks.”
On the March 1 deadline given to the FRSC by the NPA to enforce the Minimum Standard of Safety and Road Worthiness (MSSRW), Ogungbemi wondered why the Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIO) are being overlooked in the whole arrangement.
In his words, “We are not against the MSSRW of the FRSC being clamoured by NPA. What we are saying is that, is it the job of the FRSC to inspect vehicles? There are agencies of government charged with inspection of vehicles, which is the VIO. Is it that the VIO is no longer relevant?
“Secondly, we wish to know if the MSSRW has financial implications. It is not that we kicked against the policy, we only demanded for clarifications. Any patriotic citizen of this country would not go against policies of government geared towards saving lives and properties..
“We at AMATO are patriotic citizens of this country and will not kick against such policies of government. We only demanded for clarifications on some aspects of the policy which i just told you about.”
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