Leadership Crisis, Alleged Extortion Rock HDHTAN Operations in North-East
Abuja — Fresh controversy has engulfed the Heavy Duty Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN) as concerned truck drivers and stakeholders raise serious allegations regarding its leadership structure, operational practices, and alleged exploitation of members across parts of Northern Nigeria.
In petitions addressed to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, various State Ministries of Transportation, and regulatory authorities, the stakeholders question whether the association is functioning within acceptable standards of union governance or operating outside legally recognized transport frameworks.
Leadership Without Industry Roots?
Transport unions in Nigeria traditionally draw their leadership from individuals with hands-on experience in the sector. For instance, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) are largely led by active drivers, former drivers, fleet owners, and transport operators — individuals with practical knowledge of highway operations and industry realities.
However, multiple truck drivers allege that HDHTAN’s executive structure departs sharply from this model.
According to documents reviewed by GLOBALTIMES, several officials within HDHTAN reportedly:
Have never driven heavy-duty trucks
Are neither truck owners nor fleet operators
Lack verifiable experience in haulage operations
Drivers interviewed claim this disconnect has led to policies that appear “administrative and theoretical” rather than grounded in practical realities such as:
Highway harassment and extortion
Mechanical breakdown challenges
Road safety risks
Insecurity at overnight parking points
Driver fatigue and welfare concerns
A senior driver who requested anonymity said, “An association created for truckers should be led by truckers. You cannot understand the road if you have never lived on it.”
Allegations of Checkpoints and Multiple Taxation
Beyond leadership concerns, the petition raises weighty allegations of operational misconduct.
Drivers allege that HDHTAN officials have:
Established unauthorized checkpoints on federal highways
Issued receipts directly on highways, allegedly contributing to multiple taxation
Used security operatives, including personnel identified as members of the Nigeria Police Force, to enforce collections
Collected money from petroleum dealers under unclear regulatory authority
Some stakeholders further allege that these practices have enabled certain petroleum shipments to move outside Nigeria under questionable arrangements.
The association’s legal status is also being questioned, with petitioners asking whether HDHTAN is officially recognized as:
A government agency
A parastatal
A department within any ministry
Or merely a private association
Regulatory authorities have yet to publicly clarify this matter.
Allegations of Exploitation
In perhaps the most troubling claim, stakeholders describe the association as a “channel of exploitation and extortion” allegedly used by unscrupulous elements to defraud truck drivers, commuters, and small-scale transport operators.
The petition specifically references Hon. Isa Nawe, alleging that he neither owns a truck nor operates as a driver but has allegedly benefited financially from his involvement in the association. Petitioners claim he enriched himself through collections and was allegedly supported by certain national executives.
These allegations remain unproven, and no formal court findings have been cited at the time of this report. Efforts to obtain official responses from individuals mentioned were unsuccessful as of press time.
Regional Concerns: Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe
Particular attention has been drawn to activities in:
Taraba State
Adamawa State
Gombe State
Truck operators in these states allege intensified checkpoint activities and irregular collections, calling for urgent federal and state government intervention.
Call for Regulatory Review
Stakeholders are urging the federal and affected state governments to:
1. Investigate HDHTAN’s leadership eligibility criteria
2. Review its compliance with union governance standards
3. Clarify its legal and regulatory status
4. Protect truck drivers from alleged misrepresentation
5. Examine reported revenue collection mechanisms
Transport policy analysts note that credible union governance depends heavily on legitimacy, transparency, and industry-rooted leadership.
As one Abuja-based transport consultant observed, “Representation without experience creates a trust deficit. In transport, credibility comes from lived operational knowledge.”
The Larger Governance Question
The unfolding situation highlights broader questions about regulation, accountability, and the structure of transport associations in Nigeria.
For many drivers interviewed, the issue is simple: An association formed to serve truckers must reflect the realities of trucking.
Whether regulators will initiate a formal probe remains to be seen. But as tensions rise within the haulage sector, stakeholders insist that clarity, transparency, and accountability can no longer be postponed.
