The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured that all issues that are impeding the efficiency of the electronic call-up system for trucks doing business at the ports would soon be resolved.
The Acting Managing Director, NPA Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko made the pledge on Tuesday while interacting with truck owners and drivers during his visit to the Lillypond Terminal in Ijora Lagos.
A statement signed by Mr Olaseni Alakija, General Manager, Corporate and Strategy Communications, said that the visit was to enable the Acting Managing Director have a firsthand assessment of the IT infrastructure built for the call-up system, which is domiciled in the terminal.
It quoted him as saying that he was at the terminal to re-evaluate the performance of the truck call-up system three months after it was deployed.
“I also want to engage directly with the service users to appreciate their concerns and those bottlenecks arising from their subscription of the traffic management platform.
Bello-Koko said all teething issues arising from the truck call-up system will be addressed stressing that both the online scheduling process and truck transit arrangement would be fine-tuned to check against manipulation and other related irregularities.
“All teething issues arising from the truck call-up system will be addressed progressively; both the online scheduling process and truck transit arrangement will be fine-tuned to check against manipulation and other related irregularities.
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“We will ensure that the entire process is fully automated and secured to prevent counterfeiting, while priority will be given to export cargoes in line with the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government,” the statement quoted him as saying.
The acting NPA MD also seized the opportunity of the visit to assure stakeholders that the NPA management is poised to sustain the implementation of the minimum standard of trucks operating in the ports with a view to ensuring that standard operating procedure (SOP) are imbibed always.
He vowed that trucks that fail to meet the requirements as spelt out in the minimum standard would not be allowed onto the “Eto” app. According to him the e-call up system has come to stay.
Speaking during the acting MD’s visit, chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO),Chief Remi Ogungbemi, who spoke on behalf of the truckers expressed delight over the unannounced visit of the Acting Managing Director.
He described the visit as a demonstration of the Acting Managing Director’s affirmation that the truck call-up system was a priority.
“We are very happy you are here. It shows clearly that you are a listening and focused leader, who is prepared to tackle the critical issues affecting port business in our country.
“We will work with you; the success of NPA is our success as well. We commend the NPA for giving us this call-up system. The story so far has, however, not been enjoyable. We’re hopeful that things will improve very soon,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPA, on February 27, rolled out an electronic call-up system for trucks dubbed “Eto”, to address the intractable traffic gridlock along the access roads leading to the two major seaports in the Lagos area.
According to the NPA, the Tuesday visit to Lillypond Terminal by the Acting Managing Director, his first since he assumed office on May 6, is to enable him assess the quality of equipment so far deployed and identify the necessary measures required, so that the system could be made to achieve its intended objective
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