Unhappy with the traffic situation in Apapa ports, truckers under the aegis of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has advised shipping companies to collaborate with bonded terminal operators to use their facilities as holding bays.
The association made this appeal recently in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos.
Speaking during the chat, the Lagos state chairman, Dry Cargo section of NARTO; Alhaji Abdul Inuwa, said that there are many bonded terminals outside the ports that are empty which could serve as holding bays for empty containers.
He also faulted the move by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to convert the Lilypond terminal into a truck park, insisting that although it is a welcomed development what is most important is for the shipping companies to provide holding bays for their empty containers.
He also said that most of the association’s members have their private parks but the parks are always very empty because the trucks are finding it difficult assessing the ports to return the empty containers to the shipping companies.
“Even those who do not have functional holding bays, they could have collaborated with some bonded terminals that are empty. There are so many bonded terminals outside the ports that are empty they can collaborate with the shipping companies so that they can drop their empty containers and find their way’’.
On the move by the NPA on Lillypond facilities, he said ‘’It is a good development; it is a welcome idea if they say they want to allocate that place to a truck park. But having said that, the whole issue that is on ground is not only for truck parking; we are talking of container holding bay; shipping companies’ empty containers holding bay’’
‘’We have so many of our members who have truck parks and we also some private parks too owned by individuals. But when you go to the park you will see that all the parks are empty because the trucks are on the queue trying to assess the ports to drop their empty containers. It is not by having a truck parks but the empty containers should also be given a holding bay which is supposed to be provided by the shipping companies. If you go to the ports gate you will discover that no truck is assessing the ports because it is congested’’, he added.
‘’Assuming that the presidential order given by the Vice President that all shipping companies should start receiving their empty containers from their own holding bay outside the ports was followed, it would have helped the situation. If the shipping companies have their holding bays the road will always be free I am tired for this their deceit”, he stated.
He also advised that instead of converting the place to truck parks, the terminal should be dedicated to discharge only empty containers.
He also advised that with reliable holding bays, shipping companies will be required to be getting approval from the NPA anything they want to ship so that the containers will come in badges.
Explaining further, he stated that: “If they say that the Lilypond terminal should be dedicated to discharge only empty containers, it is welcomed idea because the problem we are having is when you go round this Apapa you will see a lot of truck parks, but when you go there you will find out that they are all empty because all the trucks are trying to assess the port to discharge empty containers. The main issue is where the holding bay for empty containers because every truck that will be going to this park now will be assumed to go there without any container. But if you dedicate that Lilypond for empty containers and after that the truck should go straight to its park from there they may shift the container through rail to the ports, it will be better. Or the shipping company if they want to ship it they will get an approval of how many are they sending into the ports from NPA, so that they will know that by the time they are coming they will come in barges it will help to reduce all these traffic issues we are having. During the holiday the road is usually free because some of these trucks are in their parks some didn’t leave where they were. But as far as they are working they must return those empty containers”.
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