The much-expected trucks’ electronic call-up system that was embarked upon by the Nigerian Ports Authority as one of the panacea to the Apapa traffic gridlock, has hit a brick wall.
Shipping Position Daily gathered over the weekend that the electronic trucks call -up system, which the NPA said would start this month, has been put on hold.
Recall that NPA had indicated plans to use the electronic call-up system for trucks in furtherance to its plan to accelerate operational efficiency in the nation’s seaport.
The NPA has explained that procurement process has began for a private company that will take up the responsibility to have an electronic call up system that will stand the test of time.
One of the truck drivers at the Tin Can Port; Jimoh Aina informed Shipping Position Daily that the system is presently having technical challenges which has inturn, left the trucks to again queue on the port access road.
He lamented that, "the lack of electronic call-up or access control system for trucks operating in the ports has left the trucks to perpetually be on the ports’ access roads,"
It was further gathered that the trucks have preferred to stay close to the ports with the hope of scouting for quick jobs, thereby causing obstruction to other motorists as they line-up on the roads for days.
Previous efforts to keep the indiscriminately parked trucks off the roads have failed and often, led to face-offs with government.
Confirming the development to our correspondent, the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Engr Jatto Adams, said that the electronic truck call-up system will be private sector- driven and as such the delay in the process is to get the best that will stand the test of time.
He said with the electronic call up system, only trucks that are housed in the proposed trailer parks would be allowed entry into the port when they are needed.
According to him “we have some technical issues, that's why we could not start in August, but we are still on course, you know it’s the first of its kind, so we are putting all efforts to ensure that we put up a call up system that will stand the test of time.
“And we are trying to engage private concern that is going to take up the responsibility, so we are going through the procurement process to get the best private concern that will take up the responsibility and we are taking our time to ensure that we put in best to have an electronic call up system that will stand the test of time”
“The electronic call-up system is well-researched to bring lasting solutions to the problem of trucks/tankers clogging around ports access roads”, he said.
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