By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) has commenced what it described as manual call up system in a bid to test run the much talked about electronic process for trucks.
NPA had promised to implement the electronic call-up system to control the entry of trucks into ports in Apapa area of Lagos state.
Hadiza Bala Usman, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),during an interview disclosed that the e-call up system will be introduced in January 2021.
The Orile trailer park, which is the Ahmed Tinubu trailer park will be the hub where the larger trucks will come, while Lilypond terminal and the newly built Tin Can Island Truck Park will serve as transit parks for Lagos Ports Complex and TCIPC respectively.
Checks revealled that the process will commence today, Monday 11th 2021 to as part of measures to control vehicular movement in and out of the port complex.
Our correspondent confirmed that no structure has been made available to drive the process, even as it gathered that the E-Call Up system gates at TCIPC will attract three entry points.
The include: First Gate , Abuja entry point and Second Gate.
Top official of the NPA who prefers anonymity told our correspondent that the decision was taken by management of the NPA, TCIPC at a meeting last week .
The meeting had in attendance, freight forwarders, truckers, customs brokers and Port Police officials.
He confirmed that inbound trucks laden or empty from Sunrise-Mile2 axis, must be fully documented before gaining access into the terminals for onward delivery of consignments.
He added that transporters under the auspices of Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association (COMTUA) will assist to collate the in bound trucks along the said corridor.
He noted that a combined team of the Nigerian Police Force ,Area B division with additional support from NPA security personnel and the trucking group will further strengthen the process.
The insider source maintained that “From the major parks, COMTUA team will assist to submit list of trucks with empty to the port manager of NPA at Tin Can Island Port, then inquires will be relayed to the terminal operators to know if truly such trucks should come in to drop empty boxes or take delivery of their consignments.
Asked why testing the process and not the full operations as promised by management last year, he said the manual call up has being in existence at the LPC while that of TCIPC is a new process.
According to him, the installation of electronic gadgets at LPC has commenced while the next port of call will be TCIPC.
The e-call system for truck is driven by NPA with a consult , Truck Transit Park(TTP) Limited.
When fully operational, the electronic call-up system will save Nigeria a whooping N140 billion weekly economic loss and another $10 billion yearly loss of agro products
