By Uzor Odigbo
A member of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Abdullahi Mohammed Inuwa, has appealed to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on implementation and monitoring of stamped containers cards that will indicate the return of empty containers before trucks exit the terminals.
He claimed that failure of monitoring and implementation by these regulatory agencies has caused a lot of setbacks in returning empty containers.
Inuwa, in assessing the successes and challenges of the call-up system, stated that: “Many holding bays are hiding under it to extort the truckers from N100,000 to N150,000 before empty container can be received.”
Inuwa, who lauded the efforts of the government agencies in these areas, charged NPA, NSC to be more committed to the monitoring of the system to avoid any loophole caused by some operators.
“The perennial traffic congestion of trucks within Apapa/Tincan port and its environs is a major issue of concern as many lives and properties have been lost with businesses paralyzed.
“NPA/NSC should focus more on the implementation and monitoring of policy beyond the call-up system, ETO, full implementation and monitoring to ensure container cards is being stamped by the Shipping companies/Terminal operators that will indicate where to return the empty boxes before truck exits from the terminals.
“The failure on the implementation and monitoring have been causing serious setback and frustration on the truckers as many holding bays are hiding under it to extort the truckers from N100,000 to N150,000 before the empty container can be received”
Inuwa added that the numerous checkpoints along the port access roads should be checked, saying the points are being used to extort truck drivers.
“There are so many checkpoints by the port security agents along the port access road, service line at Tincan Port and the use of CAMP BOYS or Collections and Returning officers (CRO) by the security agents, should be checked and addressed,” he said.
He highlighted other areas where government agencies should intervene to address the menace still causing traffic along the road.
“NPA/NSC should monitor the activities of shipping companies/Terminal Operators to ensure they have the required and functional handling equipment for receiving empty/export containers and loading out imports.
“Terminals should have other means for receiving empty, export containers in a case where the server fails.
“NPA/NSC to monitor the rations agreed upon for the receiving empty/export containers by terminals via trucks and barge.
“NSC/NPA should equally monitor the activities of the bonded terminals. Every terminal should have a minimum of 4 functional handling equipment in their terminal. The terminal shall have good and clear drainage. Have good access road.
“To stop any form of extortions of truckers by any bonded terminal staff and to place sanctions on any errant terminal.
“Customs should deploy Scanner machines at Apapa/Tincan port for easier and faster examinations of containerized goods than using the manual way.
“Customs should consider and dismantle the checking points some meters away from the ports mounted by the customs personnel.
“NPA should collaborate with the Lagos State Government in the area of enforcement for the purpose of clearing the Oshodi -Apapa expressway and Apapa-Ijora against stationed trucks along the expressway.
“All the roadblocks mounted by some security agents and touts along Mile 2-Tincan axis, namely:-Fatgbems, Ottor Wharf and Sunrise should be dismantled with immediate effect.
“As these roadblocks are being used for the extortions by security agents as they equally turn the expressway to their parking lot and it’s encouraging the gathering of syndicates who usually perfect fakes ETO call up documents to truckers.
“LASTMA personnel should be deployed to monitor and ensure no truck is parked on the expressway from Mile 2 to Tincan axis and equally Apapa – Ijora axis too.
“Truck with valid ETO call up document to be regulated by the system through approved parks to MOB Tincan Truck Park for easier access and monitoring to the various terminals at Tincan Port.
“MOB Tincan Truck Park exits gate to the port and Abuja gate to be the gates for the admittance of trucks to the terminals at the Tinian port,” he said.
Earlier, he lauded the efforts put in place so far to rid the roads of traffic even as he said 85 per cent of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway has restored the confidence of port users.
“However, for the road construction interventions by DANGOTE, FMN and NPA for the construction of Wharf road from the port gate to Leventis bridge as their Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR). The other major road constructions also from the Apapa Port gate to Tincan-Coconut -Mile 2 axis through Tax agreed arrangement between FG and DANGOTE have restored confidence among maritime stakeholders as about 85% of the road has been fixed, traffic and frequency of falling of container trucks have reduced drastically within the port access road and its environs.
“The steps taken by FG for expanding the logistics chains for reviving the operations of Nigerian Railway Cooperation and Barge operation into the port to complement the land transport in order to reduce pressure on the roads, setting up the Presidential Task Team PTT, committees also set by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Lagos State Government have yielded positive results that pave way for the road constructions.
“Apapa residents are driving freely to access their homes now with businesses in the commercial areas gradually picking up and introduction of the Electronic call-up system, ETO by NPA.”
