AMATO Inaugurates Lagos Executives, Launches Rescue Team, Pushes 3,500-Truck Marshalling Yard to Ease Port Congestion
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has inaugurated its Lagos State executives and launched a new Rescue Team to address operational inefficiencies, financial leakages, and congestion challenges affecting truckers around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors in Lagos.
The inauguration ceremony, which also featured the unveiling of key operational reforms, reaffirmed AMATO’s position as a solution-driven association dedicated strictly to maritime trucking operations in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, AMATO leadership said the association remains focused on identifying structural challenges within the port logistics chain and developing practical interventions rather than complaints. It stressed that trucks remain central to port evacuation operations despite persistent operational setbacks in the sector.
The association attributed many of the current inefficiencies in port trucking to the planning and concessions of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, noting that insufficient attention was given to the provision of adequate truck holding facilities during the privatization process. It argued that the removal of designated truck parks within port corridors has worsened congestion and created unsafe parking conditions along access roads.
According to AMATO, the absence of structured parking systems has significantly reduced efficiency and profitability in the trucking business, which it said has been further compounded by the activities of unauthorized operators and exploitative practices within the system.
Proposed 3,500-Truck Marshalling Yard
As part of efforts to provide long-term solutions, AMATO disclosed plans to establish a modern truck marshalling yard capable of accommodating about 3,500 trucks to serve both Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
The association said the proposal has already been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and forwarded to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for further action. It added that the council has engaged stakeholders and conducted an inspection visit to the proposed site alongside landowners, describing the response as encouraging.
Launch of AMATO Rescue Team
A major highlight of the event was the formal launch of the AMATO Rescue Team, designed to address operational breakdowns, traffic disruptions, and enforcement gaps within the port access routes.
AMATO explained that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to plug identified financial and operational leakages affecting truckers. It noted that such leakages have weakened operators’ capacity to maintain vehicles, leading to deteriorating truck conditions and safety concerns on Nigerian roads.
The Rescue Team will operate with support tools including motorbikes, communication gadgets, and towing assistance in collaboration with the National Towing Vehicle Owners Association, pending acquisition of AMATO-owned tow trucks.
Commendation for LASTMA and Security Agencies
The association commended the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for its continuous role in clearing broken-down trucks and managing congestion along key routes in Lagos, particularly around the port axis.
Representatives of security and safety agencies present at the event, including the Ports Authority Police Command and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), also praised the initiative, describing it as timely and critical to national economic stability.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between truckers and enforcement agencies to ensure smoother port operations and improved safety standards.
Stakeholder Support and Industry Concerns
Other industry stakeholders, including representatives of transport unions and freight operators, expressed support for AMATO’s initiatives, noting the importance of synergy in resolving long-standing port logistics challenges.
Speakers at the event also raised concerns about container size mismatches, driver orientation gaps, and operational inefficiencies in the maritime transport sector, calling for sustained training, regulation, and compliance enforcement.
They emphasized that many of the challenges in the sector stem from a lack of structured education for truck operators and called for periodic training programmes to improve professionalism and safety.
Call for Collaboration
AMATO urged continued collaboration with key institutions such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), noting their regulatory roles in ensuring efficiency across port operations.
The association also acknowledged the contributions of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, freight forwarders under various associations, terminal operators, and shipping companies, describing them as critical stakeholders in sustaining Nigeria’s import and export logistics chain.
Leadership Transition
The event also featured a leadership development update, with Comrade Ahmed Saro announced as the new Chairman of AMATO in Lagos State, as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and implementation of the association’s strategic objectives.
AMATO reaffirmed its commitment to improving safety, reducing congestion, and enhancing efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime trucking ecosystem, pledging continued engagement with government and private sector stakeholders to achieve sustainable reforms.
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