Protesting Truck Drivers Storm FRSC Ojodu-Berger Office, Demand Release of Seized Haulage Truck

Tension rose at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ojodu-Berger office in Lagos on Monday as members of the United Trucks and Trailer Drivers Welfare Association protested the continued seizure of one of their haulage trucks.

The protest was led by the National President of the association, Comrade Godfrey Omofomah, and attracted truck and trailer drivers from different parts of the country, including state chairmen and other officials of the association.

The protesters demanded the immediate release of the affected truck, alleging that it was seized by FRSC officials without sufficient justification.

According to the association, the circumstances surrounding the seizure require urgent review, stressing that the matter should be resolved in the interest of justice, fairness and peaceful industrial relations.

The protest also attracted members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos State Branch, led by the state chairman, Comrade Wale Ojo.

The human-rights organisation expressed solidarity with the concerns of the drivers but emphasised the need for the protest to remain peaceful and for both parties to pursue dialogue and other lawful means of resolving the dispute.

The large turnout of truck and trailer drivers temporarily disrupted normal activities within and around the FRSC premises as the protesters sought the attention of officials to their grievances.

Speaking through their leadership, the drivers said their action was not intended to promote violence or challenge the authority of the FRSC, but to demand what they described as fair treatment and the prompt resolution of the dispute involving their colleague and his vehicle.

The development has also renewed concerns about the need for effective communication and dispute-resolution mechanisms between regulatory agencies and transport operators, particularly in the haulage sector, where enforcement actions can have significant economic consequences for drivers, fleet owners, businesses and their dependants.

Human-rights observers at the scene urged both sides to avoid confrontation and allow the relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the seizure.

They also stressed that regulatory enforcement should be carried out transparently and in accordance with established laws and procedures, while transport operators are equally expected to comply with legitimate road-safety regulations.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts were reportedly underway to engage the relevant authorities and representatives of the drivers’ association in a bid to resolve the dispute peacefully.

The CDHR reiterated the importance of peaceful protest, constructive engagement, respect for the rule of law and protection of citizens’ fundamental rights.

The incident highlights the need for disagreements between citizens, trade associations and government agencies to be addressed through dialogue, mediation and transparent administrative procedures rather than confrontation.