The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) has launched plans to restructure the haulage segment of Nigeria’s maritime industry to restore order and address longstanding challenges.
AMARTO President Remi Ogungbemi announced that consultations among stakeholders, including truck owners within the sector, have begun to find lasting solutions to issues like port congestion and inefficiencies.
Excluding Government Involvement
Ogungbemi emphasized that the restructuring will exclude government officials and non-members of truck-related associations, focusing solely on industry stakeholders.
“We have started talking to ourselves, we positioned that we will restructure and reshape the sector that will bring about the expected sanity and orderliness,” he stated, stressing the importance of unity among operators.
Goals and Optimism
The initiative aims to create a conducive operating environment by tackling systemic problems through collaborative efforts. Ogungbemi expressed optimism, saying, “I am optimistic that despite the situation of things, I believe that things will change by the grace of God and start getting better.”
The plan seeks to enhance efficiency and reduce operational bottlenecks without relying on external authorities.
Context and Challenges
The maritime haulage sector, vital for moving over 80% of port goods, faces issues like extortion, poor infrastructure, and inconsistent regulations, as noted in later industry reports.
AMARTO’s 2020 initiative marks an early effort to address these challenges internally, setting the stage for potential improvements in Nigeria’s logistics framework.
