Port users heave relief as FG restores electronic call- up system

HAVING re- evaluated the implementation of the call- up system, movement of cargoes in and out of the Lagos seaports has received some respite, as the platform is restored, leading to sanity on the ports access roads.

The collapsed port access roads had caused huge economic loss to seaborne trade before the Nigerian Port

Authority ( NPA) in partnership with Truck Transit Parks ( TTP) Limited and Lagos State government introduced the electronic platform, otherwise known as Eto in February this year.

Eto had faced serious challenges leading to return of gridlock to Apapa corridor in recent times.

Investigations showed that sanity has returned to the port access roads, while evacuation of cargo is ongoing.

When The Guardian visited yesterday, the Ijora- Apapa road was free of traffic, while officers were on the ground to monitor the electronic call- up card. The road inward Tincan Port is currently being managed by trucks, as construction works continue on that axis.

However, the truck operators want improved efficiency at the terminals and reduction of checkpoints on the roads.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman, TTP, Kamar Bakrin, told The Guardian that the company has reviewed the operational mechanism of the platforms and it has been able to put the gridlock under control.

"We have been able to achieve the long- awaited milestone of bringing the Apapa traffic under control without a presidential visit or military deployment," he said.

The Managing Director, TTP, Jama Onwubuariri, said the company has identified the threats to effective deployment of the call- up system.

He listed the threats to include: "Inadequate road infrastructure; insufficient access control infrastructure; non- compliant truck park operators who release trucks out of schedule; queue jumping by some truck owners and drivers; rogue enforcement agents and inefficient terminal operators."

Onwubuariri said by using a combination of technology, physical infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration, the partners in the project are increased and existing infrastructure optimized.

He noted that the firm has been able to remove the initiative of the park owners releasing trucks from their parks indiscriminately.

It has also neutralised truck drivers’ ability to access the port without first being in a park, and following the queue.