COMTUA sacks RTEAN over harassment Of drivers

Abiola Seun

The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), has expelled one of its members, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), over alleged extortion and harassment of truck drivers.

In a press statement by the President of COMTUA, Com. Adeyinka Aroyewun, and a copy made available to newsmen, he said, the alleged Extortion is against the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by all the associations.

Aroyewun said in the process of extorting truck drivers, RETEAN members vandalised trucks.

He said, “the leadership of the Board of Trustee (BoT) and Management Committee of COMTUA, met on Wednesday 9th of March, 2022, and decided that the creation of points on roads within Lagos by members of RTEAN for the purpose of extorting truckers is condemnable.

“The harassment and intimidation of members by RTEAN members on the road is unacceptable.

He said several complaints letters had been written to the leadership of the association, but, have not yielded any positive result.

“Trucks are are often vandalised by members of RTEAN, especially where there is reluctance by a driver to yield to their extortion.

“All these and many more are violations to the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) signed to, by federating units of COMTUA.

COMTUA, however, threatened to institute a legal action against RTEAN and Its National President if the extortion continues.

“We have therefore decided to expell RTEAN from its collaboration and shall not hesitate to institute a legal action against RTEAN and it National President, Alhaji Musa Muhammad, whom the extortionists claimed is behind their actions, if the criminal acts persist.”

“Furthermore, COMTUA hereby, advise that members of the collaboration should desist and resist being coerced into payment of unofficial dues/ levies on the road to any union or association.