By Joshua Yousouph
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has congratulated Messrs Truck Transit Park (TTP), operators of the electronic call up system code named “Eto” on its successful first year anniversary.
In a statement signed by the President of COMTUA, Mr. Adeyinka Aroyewun commended the duo of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and TTP, and acknowledged that the electronic call up system has eased cargo handling in and out of the ports. He also noted that the idea is noble and deserves commendation.
“The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations joins other stakeholders to congratulate the duo of NPA and TTP one year into their operations. It should be acknowledged that, in addition to cargo handling in and out of the ports, which is the statutory responsibility of NPA, they took up the responsibility of truckers to provide an electronic means of getting to the ports. The idea is noble and deserves commendation.
“The responsibility to ensure the free flow of truck movement is not NPA’s, our plight is their concern and it adversely affect their business. Taking up such bold step is highly appreciated. However, we truckers have now seen reasons to take our destiny in our hands. We have chosen a similar path but devoid of favouritism as it widely describes TTP (A case study of the ARMY TRUCKS)”, he said.
The COMTUA President said the association had requested for same initiative which will provide Terminal Delivery Orders (TDOs) and jobs for truckers which has made TTP to introduce a similar one after its one year of operation at the ports. He noted that the quantity and quality of personnel deployed into the policy and enforcement negates the principle of removing human interference in the process.
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“We have no regrets doing business with NPA, rather the need for an alternative is desirable especially in the cost of eto and movement into the ports. We have requested a product that seek to provide our members with TDOs and jobs, just has TTP is now thinking in our direction by introducing a similar product one year after. The quantity and quality of personnel deployed into the policy and enforcement at the instance of the current regime is our concern. It negates the principle of removing human interference in the process.
“I shall not hesitate to mention that the sanity recorded in Apapa is a credit that should be given to the partners in the road construction and the government on traffic maintenance. The tripartite funding of the road construction and the handlers should be acknowledged for this. The responsibility given to TTP is in the areas of accessing the ports and only on this can their score card be appraised.
“The claim that truckers demand for eto to be unbundled because of 5% is a subterfuge. It is more of the failure in delivery. Monopoly has never yielded good fruits anywhere, if we preache against monopoly and poor service delivery and you think we are selfish; selflessness is not guaranteed under Monopoly either”, Aroyewun concluded.
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