Truckers refuse to participate in planned hunger protest

Truckers, under the auspices of the National Association of Maritime Transport Operators, have announced that they will not participate in the planned protest on August 1.

The factional chairman of the association, Lukman Zangalo, made this statement on Saturday in Lagos.

Some Nigerians have concluded plans to embark on nationwide protests to demand economic and political reforms and address the rising cost of living.

The aggrieved Nigerians have been mobilising and organising on social media, temporarily adopting the #EndBadGovernance slogan.

Commenting on the planned protest, Lukman distanced his group from an earlier statement by another faction of the association.

“Our attention has been drawn to a press release by the Yinka Aroyewun faction of NAMTOP regarding their plan to join the national protest against bad governance slated for 1st to 10th August 2024.

“We wish to categorically inform the public that our faction of NAMTOP is not participating in any protest,” he said.

The factional chairman stated that no peaceful protest has ever ended in peace.

Lukman added that the economy of Lagos and Nigeria in general is yet to recover from the End SARS Protest.

“No peaceful protest has ever ended in peace. The economy of Lagos State and Nigeria is yet to recover from the devastating outcome of the #EndSARS protest that started as a peaceful protest,” Lukman added.

According to him, as the law-abiding faction of NAMTOP, the group believes in dialogue as a positive tool for dispute resolution.

“We are committed to bringing solutions to the challenges of maritime trucking operations through a diplomatic approach with the authorities,” he explained.

Lukman stated that currently, NAMTOP does not have a leadership structure, “not to talk of a state chairman or president, because the leadership tussle of the association is before the Lagos State High Court.

“The court is yet to pass its judgment in favour of any faction. Therefore, neither of the two factions has the right to parade itself in any capacity before the public as the representative of the association,” he stated.

He urged their members to remain peaceful and law-abiding and to pursue their business activities without fear.

Lukman charged members to report any suspicious and mischievous moves to the authorities.