Seven Groups Sign Off MOU To Dissolve COMTUA Officially, Freeze Bank Account 

Seven members of Unions and Associations  constituting the defunct Council for Maritime Truck Union’s and Association (COMTUA) on Monday in Lagos , officially signed off the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that gave birth to it existence, as it has dissolved the body of haulage transporters within  the port industry.

The seven groups have also frozen the bank account of the COMTUA urging the banks, and relevant stakeholders in the industry  to arrest anyone or groups parading self with the name of the defunct body.

The signing off was made possible by two representatives from each of the seven groups, witnessed by other members collectively.

Speaking at the official dissolution of COMTUA as attended by representatives of the seven groups, pioneer President Comrade Olaleye Thompson called on the government to take drastic steps to arrest anyone parading themselves as COMTUA saying that the Council ceased to exist henceforth.

The  foremost president,  said that body ceased to exist with effect from 31st July, 2023.

He therefore notified all government agencies including security agencies and maritime stakeholders to be aware and stop dealing with anyone who still parade in such capacity.

“Consequently the freedom to associate, under which COMTUA was formed, has ceased upon the termination of the MoU and the body hitherto called COMTUA has died with effect from the day the consenting parties signed it off.

“Our meeting today is to let the whole world know that there is nothing like COMTUA anymore, and whoever still parades himself or any group of people claiming to be COMTUA is illegally doing so.

“We are today, notifying all Government agencies , including security agencies to be aware, take note and stop dealing with anyone who still parades in such capacity.

*We specifically call on relevant arm of security agencies to arrest and deal with any such person decisively.”

Recall that the seven  founding groups established COMTUA in 2019 at the peak of Apapa gridlock to offer workable solution to the then debilitating traffic in and.out of the port.

“It was principally formed to partner with the federal government to solve the traffic problem because of the negative effects of gridlock on businesses in Apapa.

On the group’s decision to collapse the Council, Comrade Olaleye said the purpose for the MoU was significantly achieved in the area of collaborating with relevant bodies that were entrusted with enforcement of traffic guidelines

“There is no doubt that, COMTUA contributed its quota to the enthronement of orderliness in vehicular traffic in Apapa'” Comrade Olaleye enthused.

He added that derailment of the new executive eight months after its inauguration, prompted withdrawal of some prominent members like Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), followed by Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

Even though the thinking among most of the collaborating unions was that there was no need for COMTUA any longer, we nevertheless still conducted an adhoc election which produced Mr Yinka Aroyewun as an Interim President, pending the approval of the foundation members of COMTUA on the future of COMTUA.

“The approval never came, and sadly rather than build on the good legacies of the foundation members, the Aroyewun one-man interim leadership bastardised COMTUA, and in the process lost the respect of stakeholders in the maritime industry.

“Under the temporary headship of Mr Aroyewun, COMTUA lost all its respect, it derailed from the objectives that led to its formation.

“COMTUA  became an instrument of blackmail and ill-conceived petitions.

“We were devastated, because notable industry stakeholders no longer see COMTUA as partners in progress. Nobody was willing to associate with anything that has to do with COMTUA any longer.

“Apparently worried these string of misdemeanors, the founding fathers of COMTUA consequently called for an emergency meeting which held on the 20th of July, 2023.

“At this very important meeting, it was unanimously agreed through voting, that COMTUA should be scrapped.”

While responding, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju who was the first joint Board of Trustees Chairman, stated that union would go to sleep with two eyes closed following the dissolution of COMTUA.

According to him, COMTUA has achieved the purpose of its creation noting that MWUN will continue to have the interest of the port industry at heart.

Adeyanju further congratulated all the various groups for their support during the existence of COMTUA.

Stephen Okafor, former Deputy President of the defunct group of truckers maintained that a letter will emanate from the founding fathers to inform the bank on COMTUA dissolution and outright freezing of accounts.

Similarly, the former financial secretary of the defunct COMTUA Mrs. Folake George reiterated that the former council’s bank account will be frozen immediately after the MoU dissolution.

Highlights of the occasion was signing of the dissolution letter by the seven founding associations and unions.

COMTUA was made up of : Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO, Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association ACTOA, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN.

Others are National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW , Association of Maritime Truck Owners AMATO  and Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria COTOAN.