MARCEL MBAMALUTruck drivers brought the Benin-Lagos highway to a standstill on Good Friday, blocking both sides of the road at Danco and Beta Petrol stations.
The drivers protested the alleged demand for N10,000 bribes by Nigerian Customs officers, which they claim is a long-standing grievance.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe drivers, determined to bring attention to their plight, stood firm for two hours despite pleas from authorities to disperse. A police escort, initially tasked with ensuring the drivers’ safe passage, was stranded alongside other motorists. The leader of the customs officers attempted to reason with the drivers, returning a seized waybill to one of the truck owners, but they refused to yield. The owner later told Prime Business Africa that his plywood-carrying truck was held for three days by the customs officers at the post despite pleas.
A youth chairman in the community intervened, but his words fell on deaf ears. The drivers remained resolute, united in their demand for an end to the alleged corrupt practice. As the standoff continued, the highway became congested with frustrated commuters.
After two hours, the authorities relented, promising to investigate the allegations. Satisfied that their voices had been heard, the drivers slowly dispersed, allowing traffic to flow once more. The incident highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the operations of Nigerian Customs officers.
Dr. Marcel Mbamalu is a communication scholar, journalist and entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and is the Chief Executive Officer Newstide Publications, the publishers of Prime Business Africa.
A seasoned journalist, he horned his journalism skills at The Guardian Newspaper, rising to the position of News Editor at the flagship of the Nigerian press. He has garnered multidisciplinary experience in marketing communication, public relations and media research, helping clients to deliver bespoke campaigns within Nigeria and across Africa.
He has built an expansive network in the media and has served as a media trainer for World Health Organisation (WHO) at various times in Northeast Nigeria. He has attended numerous media trainings, including the Bloomberg Financial Journalism Training and Reuters/AfDB training on Effective Coverage of Infrastructural Development of Africa.
A versatile media expert, he won the Jefferson Fellowship in 2023 as the sole Africa representative on the program. Dr Mbamalu was part of a global media team that covered the 2020 United State’s Presidential election. As Africa's sole representative in the 2023 Jefferson Fellowships, Dr Mbamalu was selected to tour the United States and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong) as part of a 12-man global team of journalists on a travel grant to report on inclusion, income gaps and migration issues between the US and Asia.
