BEING COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC)/STATE CHAIRMEN JOINT MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 27H JUNE, 2022 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL OF THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ANNEX, NO 31, CALCUTTA CRESCENT, APAPA, LAGOS.
COMMUNIQUE
The 2nd Quarter National Executive Council/State Chairmen Joint Meeting was held on Tuesday, 28th June 2022. All NEC Members and State Chairmen or their Representatives attended the meeting at the newly acquired NARTO Head Office building located at 31, Calcutta Crescent, Apapa, Lagos.
Very important issues were discussed, such as the need to maintain good and cordial relationship with all stakeholders, the government, and the general public in the interest of peaceful co-existence and improvement in transport service delivery nationwide.
Members have commended the federal government for acceeding to increase the freight rate by reviewing, upward, the national transport fund by N10/= to address the concerns of transporters who have been operating under difficult conditions, particularly the ever-rising cost of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and high cost of vehicle spare parts.
To reciprocate this gesture from the government, and to improve our level of service delivery, members have resolved as follows:
- The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners would continue to serve the people of Nigeria diligently and selflessly even in the face of the difficult operating conditions occasioned by high rate of inflation, insecurity, and dilapidated road infrastructure in the country.
- NARTO commends the federal government of Nigeria through the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for being sensitive to the feelings of our members that have been suffering untold hardships in, especially transporting PMS, at the prevailing poor and inadequate freight rate.
- The Association abhors and condemns
- illegal bunkering in its totality and would do everything possible to assist government in fishing out any culprit operating in our midst. We therefore call on all our members to desist from the practice as anyone found will have himself/herself to blame.
- All members are advised to keep away from any form of smuggling of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders. We have given the Nigerian Customs our full pledged commitment that our members are law abiding and patriotic, therefore, they would not be involved in this unlawful practice.
- Members also resolved that they would not be involved in illegal diversion of petroleum products under any guise. Any member of the Association that is involved in this unwholesome practice would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
- The Association has called on Bayelsa State Government to provide a level playing ground for all the transport unions/associations operating in the state to provide their services to the people without let or hinderance. Sadly, we observed with dismay and disbelief, the systematic alienation of NARTO from operating in Bayelsa State while other unions are not otherwise restricted.
- We call on the governments of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States to treat all our members and drivers with civility and respect as they serve the people of their respective states. While calling on our members to conduct themselves responsibly and obey all traffic regulations in all the state, we deplore the imposition of heavy and unrealistic penalties by these states. NARTO is favorable disposed towards dialogue and peaceful resolution would not be tolerated by the association.
- NARTO would continue to support and cooperate with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in election logistics to enable it deliver on their mandate in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections and others that will come before and after it.
Signed for: Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), this 28th day of June, 2022:
Mr. Aloga Ignatius Ogbogo Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman
Executive Secretary National President