E- Call Up: NPA Designates 17 New Truck Parks

E- Call Up: NPA Designates 17 New Truck Parks

Abiodun OBA

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has designated another 17 truck parks to complement its existing garages under its electronic call-up system also known as ETO.

This new categorization is designed to fine tune the ETO with a view to solving the teething challenges associated with the ETO in the last two weeks.

According to a statement by the Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ibrahim Nasiru a copy made available to newsmen, the authority warned exporters to complete documentation to avoid being denied access into the seaport.

According to the statement, the new categorization is in line with the desire of the management of the authority to deepen the electronic call-up system with a view to making movement of trucks seamless and ultimately eliminate traffic congestion on ports’ access roads in Apapa and environs.

Under the new system, conducive environment has been provided for export cargo while truckers in this category are encouraged to ensure they complete all documentations required by the Nigeria Customs Service, terminal operators and shipping lines before approaching the ports, as those who fail to complete these documentations will be denied access to the ports.

The NPA also warned that transporters and truck owners who fail to use the approved truck parks based on the categorization would not be able to access any of the country’s seaports.

The statement further revealed that the authority is currently working with relevant government agencies including the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other stakeholders to ensure that all the teething problems were resolved and efficient transport system restored.

The authority however appreciate the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his commitment towards ending the truck congestion through the enforcement of extant rules.

The statement reads in part: “The authority is pleased that operations have justified the conviction that we have finally found the solution to the problem of truck congestion on the access roads into the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports.

“Although, we have experienced teething problems as would be expected of innovations like this, the authority is pleased that these issues are being tackled as they arise, and that steady progress is being made in the process.

“As part of efforts to deepen the impact of ETO and make the movement of trucks more seamless, the NPA, after consultations with stakeholders arrived at the categorization of trucks parks as batching points for all trucks doing business at the ports.

”Transporters and truck owners who do not use the approved truck parks based on the categorization would be unable to access the ports.

“While the authority is working with the NEPC to arrive at a more conducive environment for the operation of export cargo owners, the authority wishes to state that truckers in this category should ensure they complete all documentations required by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), terminal operators and shipping lines before approaching the ports as failure to complete the documentation will be met with denial of access into the ports.”