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….Seek Formal Recognition of HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, Warn Extortion and Insecurity Threaten Food Supply, National Economy
Nigeria’s major agricultural producers, market traders, haulage operators and interstate transport associations have jointly raised the alarm over the persistent menace of illegal checkpoints, multiple taxation, extortion and growing insecurity on federal highways, warning that the situation is driving up the cost of transporting goods, worsening inflation and threatening the country’s food security.
The concerns were contained in a Joint Communiqué presented at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) National Secretariat, Abuja, where the coalition appealed to the Federal Government to urgently strengthen efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s highways and protect legitimate interstate transport operators.
The communiqué was read by the National Secretary of the Coalition of Agricultural Producers, Market Traders, Haulage and Interstate Transport Associations of Nigeria (CAPMHTAN), Comrade Sunday Olawoyin, who was supported at the briefing by the coalition’s National Chairman, Engr. Osigbemeh Emmanuel, alongside leaders of the coalition’s member associations.
In the communiqué, unanimously adopted by the chairmen of the coalition’s twelve member associations, CAPMHTAN called for urgent institutional and policy measures to eliminate illegal revenue collection on federal highways and strengthen the operations of the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN) Federal Taskforce.
The coalition argued that while the Federal Government has demonstrated commitment to improving the Ease of Doing Business and enhancing road transportation through various reforms, the objectives of those policies continue to be undermined by unauthorized checkpoints, illegal taxes and persistent attacks on transport operators in several parts of the country. 
According to the coalition, transport operators moving food items, livestock, solid minerals, timber, construction materials and commercial cargo continue to face daily harassment from unauthorized individuals and agencies operating illegal roadblocks on federal highways, resulting in avoidable delays, increased operating costs and disruptions to the national supply chain.
The stakeholders noted that these practices have significantly increased the cost of transporting agricultural commodities from producing communities to urban markets, with the additional financial burden ultimately transferred to consumers through higher food prices.
The communiqué stated that despite sustained efforts by the Federal Government to improve interstate commerce, truck operators remain vulnerable to unlawful levies imposed by various state and local actors, widespread extortion, intimidation, illegal seizure of vehicles and other forms of interference with legitimate haulage businesses.
The coalition further expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation confronting transporters, citing incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping of drivers, attacks on haulage vehicles, cargo theft and vandalism of transport assets on major highways.
According to the coalition, these security challenges not only endanger the lives of transport workers but also undermine national economic productivity and discourage investment in the logistics sector.
CAPMHTAN, however, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for policy initiatives aimed at improving the Ease of Doing Business, promoting road safety and protecting legitimate businesses operating across Nigeria’s transport sector.
The coalition particularly applauded the establishment of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, describing it as a strategic intervention that has provided renewed hope for sanitising federal highways through efforts to combat multiple taxation, dismantle illegal checkpoints, monitor heavy-duty truck operations, gather intelligence for security agencies and report economic sabotage.
The group also acknowledged the supervisory role played by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and other collaborating federal security agencies in supporting the objectives of the taskforce.
Despite these commendations, the coalition lamented what it described as resistance from some state governments and agencies to the operations of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, despite official communications from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation concerning its establishment and operational responsibilities.
The coalition argued that such resistance runs contrary to the principles of intergovernmental cooperation necessary for promoting national economic growth, protecting interstate commerce and eliminating illegal practices on federal highways.
Reaffirming its support for lawful government initiatives, CAPMHTAN declared its commitment to strengthening national security, protecting legitimate transport operators, eliminating multiple taxation, curbing illegal revenue collection, enhancing intelligence gathering and promoting transparency and accountability in highway operations.
The coalition maintained that the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce remains an important institutional mechanism for restoring order and improving compliance across Nigeria’s highway transport network.
To address the challenges confronting the haulage and logistics industry, the coalition presented a number of requests to the Federal Government.
Among its key demands is the formal national inauguration of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce as a recognised inter-agency operational platform with clearly defined statutory responsibilities and institutional backing.
The coalition also called on the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue an official Letter of Introduction to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, security organisations and other relevant stakeholders confirming the mandate and Federal Government support for the taskforce.
It further requested that the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce be formally recognised as the principal operational partner of the Joint Revenue Board in matters relating to highway enforcement against illegal revenue collection, multiple taxation, haulage compliance monitoring and the reporting of revenue leakages and economic sabotage.
In addition, the coalition urged the Presidency to issue a directive compelling all state governments, state ministries, security outfits and revenue agencies to cooperate fully with the taskforce in implementing Presidential Order No. 001 on Ease of Doing Business and other relevant Federal Government directives governing interstate transportation.
The communiqué also advocated stronger institutional collaboration between the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce and federal security and regulatory agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Joint Revenue Board, the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Federal Ministry of Mines, the Federal Ministry of Iron and Steel, and other relevant institutions through structured intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement operations.
The coalition stressed that improving transport efficiency remains central to reducing the cost of doing business, ensuring uninterrupted movement of agricultural produce and stabilising prices of essential commodities across the country.
It warned that unless decisive action is taken to dismantle illegal checkpoints and eliminate unauthorized levies, Nigeria’s efforts to combat inflation, improve food distribution and strengthen interstate commerce may continue to face serious setbacks.
CAPMHTAN concluded by reaffirming the commitment of its member associations to lawful operations, national security, economic growth and continued partnership with the Federal Government in ensuring that Nigeria’s federal highways remain safe, secure and free from criminal activities and illegal taxation.
The communiqué was unanimously adopted and signed by the chairmen of the coalition’s twelve member associations, including the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN), National Tomatoes Transporters Association of Nigeria (NTTAN), National Cassava and Agricultural Produce Haulers Association (NCAPHA), National Cattle Haulers Association of Nigeria (NCHAN), National Livestock Transporters Forum (NLTF), National Charcoal and Solid Minerals Haulers Association (NCSMHA), National Timber and Forest Produce Transporters Association (NTFPTA), National Container and General Cargo Haulers Business Group (NCGCHBG), National Building Materials Transporters Association (NBMTA), Association of Quarry and Chipping Stones (AQCS), National Food Commodities Transporters Association (NFCTA), and the Association of Farm and Agricultural Produce (AFAP).
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