Truckers’ unions call for Niger government to end border crisis

20 April 2009

A Niger truckers’ union is calling on its government to assist the predominantly Togolese and Ghanaian truck drivers who have been stranded at a border crossing in a dispute over cargo overloading.

More than 200 truckers are being delayed at Makalondi bridge at the Burkina-Niger border; some of them have been there for almost three months. They are being held because truck owners are either refusing to pay fines for overloaded vehicles, or are paying the fines but refusing to offload the extra cargo. The fines were introduced as a result of the Niger government’s decision to implement a West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) regulation on overloading. The WAEMU is a regional union of eight West African countries, including Niger.

The ITF-affiliated Syndicat National des Conducteurs Routiers Voyageurs du Niger has voiced concerns over the health and welfare of the truckers and has launched an appeal to the Niger government, demanding that it phase in the regulation gradually over a three-month period. This would help unions, customs and police authorities to raise drivers’ and owners’ awareness of the issue and minimise overloading on departure. It has been reported that most of the trucks were from Ghana and Togo and that some were exceeding the authorised load by more than 50 tons.

It is understood that poor sanitation at the border due to overcrowding and lack of water and toilet facilities is putting health at risk. The union and Nazi Kaboré, ITF Francophone coordinator, warned: “Truckers are sleeping under their trucks and some have small tents but there are problems with sanitation and laundry. If this situation is not resolved as soon as possible we could face a cholera epidemic similar to what is being experienced at the border with Zimbabwe and South Africa, threatening lives across the entire subregion.”

Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary added: “To avoid similar situations in future, subregional groupings such as the Economic Community of West African States and the WAEMU should engage in regular dialogue with trade unions on transport policy matters.”

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