As the presidential task team on the gridlock comes to an end today, a member of the team, Mr. Nelson Ekunjimi, has accused terminal operators of sabotaging the efforts of the team, saying that they are deliberately delaying the trucks from having direct access to the ports.
Nelson who spoke with Shipping Position Daily in Apapa, Lagos last week also said that since they started the work about four weeks ago, they have been having issues with the terminal operators.
“So the truck drivers are big problems, what we have found out is that the way the terminal operators operate is beyond what one can rationalize. It’s like they are part of the problem in such a way that they allow their work to slow down and there will be backlog of trucks that are supposed to go into the terminal for them to work”
“Since we arrived, we have been having running battles with the terminal operators because at times they will tell you that they are changing shift. I have not seen anywhere in the world in an organization when they are changing shift there is a two hours gap except with the terminal operators in Apapa ports”
Nelson also accused the Nigeria Navy of working against the task team.
“Somebody is taking over from somebody at 10am and they will not resume work until 1pm. So you can imagine what the consequences would be for trucks that are coming in to convey cargos. We are battling with so many factors even sabotage by the Navy personnel. Because most times all these shady deals occur mostly at nights because you know that even the task team are human beings. When they go out in the morning by 7pm they are back to the hotel and they are tired”
He however maintained that there is need for an enforcement team for sanity to be retained on the axis even as he added that the time frame was not enough for the team to work properly.
“I think what we need to sustain this effort is for us to have an enforcement team on ground so that the drivers will be cautioned. Two weeks is not enough I must be honest with you because I have been working with the team since they started. The work is big and if you want to change the system you need constant enforcement”
“When we were towing some trucks that were not properly parked, if they see you, they will leave the spot and park in another bad spot if you get there they will move again they will keep moving about. So you need an enforcement team that they will know if they are caught they will tow them they will stay clear”
Explaining further he said that the truck drivers are used to the era of indiscipline thereby making it difficult for them to adapt fast with the task team.
“But the challenges we are facing now are the bad roads from Tin Can to Mile 2. Another challenge is that a lot of the truck drivers are used to the era of indiscipline whereby they don’t park at the designated truck parks; the mostly stay on the roads. They have converted the public roads to garages and parks and in that way if you send them parking from point A before you say Jack, they are already parked somewhere in front. If they don’t see you with a towing van that is ready to tow them away they won’t move”
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