Nigeria’s maritime transport sector is stepping up efforts to improve road safety after truck owners warned operators against using unsafe and poorly maintained vehicles for cargo movement.
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) said some trucks operating around the country’s ports lack essential safety features such as working headlamps, rear lights, and reflective tapes. According to the association, these basic safety measures are critical, especially during nighttime operations, as they help other road users identify moving or broken-down trucks and reduce the risk of fatal crashes.
AMATO President Remi Ogungbemi urged truck owners, fleet managers, and drivers to inspect their vehicles before every trip and ensure all required safety equipment is functional. He stressed that improving compliance with safety standards would help protect lives, safeguard valuable cargo, and strengthen professionalism within Nigeria’s maritime haulage industry.
The association called on all stakeholders to treat road safety as a shared responsibility, emphasizing that preventing avoidable accidents begins with maintaining safe and roadworthy trucks.
