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Abuja — The Coalition of Agricultural Producers, Market Traders, Haulage and Interstate Transport Associations of Nigeria (CAPMHTAN) has applauded the Federal Government for supporting the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN) Federal Taskforce in its ongoing campaign against illegal checkpoints, highway touts and multiple taxation, saying the intervention has begun restoring sanity to Nigeria’s federal highways.

The coalition, however, appealed to the Presidency to provide full institutional backing for the taskforce to consolidate the gains already recorded and permanently eradicate illegal revenue collection, extortion and other criminal activities along major transport corridors.

The position was contained in a Joint Communiqué unanimously adopted by the chairmen of the coalition’s 12 member associations after a meeting convened to review the operational challenges confronting interstate haulage, agricultural produce transportation and freight logistics across the country.

The coalition said operators in the transport and logistics sector had witnessed encouraging improvements following the establishment of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, describing the initiative as one of the Federal Government’s practical steps towards improving the Ease of Doing Business and protecting legitimate businesses operating on the nation’s highways.

According to the communiqué, the coalition expressed “profound appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the policy initiatives aimed at improving the Ease of Doing Business, promoting road safety, protecting legitimate businesses and improving interstate transportation.”

It specifically commended the creation of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, noting that its operations have provided fresh hope for transporters through the dismantling of illegal checkpoints, the fight against multiple taxation, monitoring of heavy-duty truck operations, intelligence gathering for security agencies and efforts to ensure the free movement of goods and services across Nigeria.

The coalition also acknowledged the supervisory role played by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Inspector-General of Police and other collaborating federal security agencies in supporting the objectives of the taskforce.

CAPMHTAN noted that although the anti-touting campaign has yielded positive results in several parts of the country, more work remains to be done to completely eliminate illegal operators who continue to harass truck drivers and transport businesses on federal highways.

It observed that many transporters still contend with illegal checkpoints mounted by unauthorised persons, arbitrary levies imposed by state and local actors, extortion, intimidation, unlawful seizure of vehicles and persistent disruptions to legitimate interstate haulage operations.

The coalition also raised concerns over growing cases of armed robbery, kidnapping of truck drivers, cargo theft and vandalism of transport assets, warning that such criminal activities continue to increase transportation costs and ultimately contribute to rising prices of food, building materials and other essential commodities.

According to the communiqué, some state governments and agencies have also failed to fully implement Federal Government policies intended to improve the Ease of Doing Business, while others have allegedly resisted the activities of the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce despite official communications from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The coalition maintained that such resistance undermines national economic objectives and weakens ongoing efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s highway transportation system.

Reaffirming its confidence in the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce, CAPMHTAN declared its support for all lawful Federal Government initiatives aimed at strengthening national security, eliminating multiple taxation, curbing illegal revenue collection, protecting legitimate transport operators and improving transparency in highway operations.

The coalition stressed that giving the taskforce stronger institutional support would significantly accelerate the campaign against touting and other illegal activities affecting interstate commerce.

To achieve this objective, CAPMHTAN urged the Federal Government to formally inaugurate the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce as a nationally recognised inter-agency operational platform with a clearly defined mandate and legal backing.

It also appealed to 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 agencies and relevant stakeholders confirming the taskforce’s mandate and Federal Government support.

The coalition further requested that the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce be designated the principal operational partner of the Joint Revenue Board in combating illegal revenue collection, multiple taxation, haulage compliance violations and economic sabotage on federal highways.

It equally called on the Presidency to direct all state governments, state ministries, security outfits and revenue agencies to cooperate fully with the taskforce in implementing Presidential Order No. 001 on the Ease of Doing Business and other Federal Government policies relating to interstate transportation.

The coalition also advocated stronger operational collaboration between the HDHTAN Federal Taskforce and key federal institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Customs Service, Joint Revenue Board and relevant ministries through coordinated enforcement operations and intelligence sharing.

CAPMHTAN reiterated that its member associations remain committed to lawful business operations and pledged continued partnership with the Federal Government in promoting safer highways, efficient logistics and seamless movement of goods across Nigeria.

The communiqué was jointly adopted and signed by the chairmen of 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 (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, Chipping Stones (AQCS), National Food Commodities Transporters Association (NFCTA) and the Association of Farm and Agricultural Produce (AFAP).