As part of efforts to put lasting solutions to the Oshodi-Apapa expressway gridlock, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is collaborating with the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) in partnership with Interswitch Nigeria Limited to introduce a call-up system for maritime trucks and petroleum tankers.
At a presentation of the new system in Lagos yesterday, the General Manager Security of NPA; Col Jamil Tahir (rtd) declared the support of the NPA for the call-up system, saying that it will eliminate traffic problems and criminal activities around the port corridors.
Jamil said that NPA had been working on a sustainable plan for movement of trucks in and out of the ports in the past three years and also to rid the port of congestion, indiscriminate parking and criminal activities.
He said: "The Call-up system is not new to us, we have been on it for three years, the NPA is worried about the fact that many people have lost their lives as a result of the Apapa traffic, I believe that if only 25% of this call-up system is implemented there will be a measure of relieve"
"The NPA is keen on partnering stakeholders to ensure that this programme succeeds and today's section is just to consummate the on-going plans for the introduction of the system”.
With the new system, every truck and petrol tanker owner is expected to register their trucks and drivers on a platform operated by consultants to AMARTO; FT Logistics Global Services Limited.
The call-up system is based strongly on TDO's (Terminal Delivery Orders) which will be released by Terminal Operators on how many containers are ready to be offloaded from their terminals.
Already, the AMARTO had embarked on visits to stakeholders including the Lagos State Government, freight forwarding associations, terminal operators, shipping companies among others to sensitise them.
In his presentation; Chairman of FT Logistics Solutions; Chief Chris Orode said a truck park and a holding bay of 6000 square meters has been established at the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Expressway where trucks will be called from. Containers will be stacked according to each shipping line.
"On the strength of the call-up system, empty containers are to move only at night, and all trucks seen on the road must have a call-up, without which they cannot access the port, we will station truck marshals on the highways to apprehend offenders", he added.
Orode said that that truck owners have equally been advised to consolidate their business, restricting each company to have not less than 50 trucks that will be registered by the NPA.
Under the new arrangement, he said terminal operators will upload Terminal Delivery Orders (TDO) to the platform overnight; this is what the company will be using to call up trucks.
"They will upload their TDOs into our systems overnight, the freight forwarder will now access our systems based on first come first serve basis and they will be given authorization, information will be dispatched by SMS to all key stakeholders and NPA will use this for their oversight function."
On his part, Chairman of Port Facility Security Officers Forum, Mr. Subairu Anataku commended the call-up system, saying that if it can be implemented it will solve old traffic problems. He said that trucks would now be colour-coded according to each trucking company and shipping company and this will prevent drivers from messing up on the roads.
He however raised fears that the call-up system might be affected by frequent system breakdowns by the terminal operators.
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