New Lagos Traffic Law Threatens FG’s N1trn Ports Revenue

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has warned of imminent breakdown of port operations, which will definitely lead to standstill in international trade and subsequent high prices of products, following the ban of truck operations in day time in Lagos.

It also warned that the federal government might experience difficulty in earning income from tariffs if the new law is allowed to stay, as the port remains the second largest source of income for the federal government.

The federal government aims to garner N1 trillion from the ports this year, but a new traffic law signed by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, which banned cargo truck movement into the metropolis in day time could deter the revenue target, AMATO warned.

By the new Lagos State Road Traffic Law, with the exception of tankers and passenger trucks, trailers are not allowed to operate within the metropolis precisely between the hours of 6am and 9pm. Offenders risk six months’ imprisonment or impoundment of vehicle and payment of N50,000 fine.