By Sunday M. Ogwu (Abuja) Eugene Agha, Abdullateef Aliyu & Christiana T. Alabi (Lagos)
Controversy has continued to trail the electronic call-up system (Eto) introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ease the chaotic gridlock into Apapa.
The Management of NPA had in 2020 introduced the e-call up for trucks as a way to solve the traffic on the Port access roads.
To do this, the Management of NPA contracted the handling of the Eto to Truck Transit Park (TTP).
As at the time Eto was conceived, TTP was asked to design electric-generated call-up cards for trucks with a valid business to enter inside the Apapa seaports.
Aside, the ETO system, NPA dedicated Lyllipond terminal as holding for trucks with genuine access cards to the Port.
Few weeks after its official launch, NPA raised the alarm that some dubious-minded truck drivers, in connivance with some cafe owners have started falsifying e-call up access cards.
While NPA and the promoters of TTP are accusing truck drivers of trying to subvert the entire process, drivers on their own on the other hand have alleged extortion against NPA and TTP.
The President of the Council of Maritime Transport Union Associations (COMTUA), Mr Yinka Aroyewun, has called for the review of the operations of the electronic call-up system for trucks in Lagos seaports.
Aroyewun made the call at a joint meeting of the association’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and the Executive Member in Lagos
He said: “Stakeholders were not involved in the policy formulation while the dispenser of the system did not have detailed knowledge of the port environment.
“The call-up system is a medium for extortion as a result of a compromise between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the current dispenser of the service which is the Truck Transit Parks (TTP).
“They are more interested in the revenue generation than solving the problems we are facing.
“They will just sit down in their office, charge and book vehicles whereas; they are not concerned about the destination of these vehicles.
“If a vehicle is booked to return empty containers to the port, they get to the terminal and are told there is no space to receive these containers, the container remains on our trucks for days and they are still charging demurrage.
“As a matter of fact the e-call-up system has not been able to solve the problems, rather it is a major means of extortion,” he further alleged.
‘E-call-up system has not solved extortion in Apapa ports’
A council member of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Inua Abdullahi said despite the electronic call-up system, truckers are still paying money to a group of people to access the ports.
In a chat with Daily Trust, he said: “We assumed that the e-call up will regulate the movement of trucks coming without any hindrance but after processing, paying to the call-up, you now meet a lot of checkpoints by security agents and some hoodlums along the axis. So this doesn’t make sense
“Now the purpose of e-call up has not been achieved within this Tin-Can axis. They need to do something to close these bottlenecks along the access road because, with your e-call up system, you are still paying money to a group of people.
“Even LASTMA even comes to tow some trucks despite the call-up. This is the area we need to look into.”
He confirmed that there is a temporary relief for truckers because of the drastic reduction in imports globally.
“Assuming we have a lot of imports now, you would have seen the challenge we are facing. We are enjoying the grace of this low importation. Importation has reduced by over 60 percent due to the global challenge.
He however advised the NPA to work more together with those manning the roads for greater synergy and efficiency in the implementation of the e-call up system.
“NPA should regulate to make sure that they dispatch trucks in batches from the approved park. The enforcement people should allow those who have a genuine call-up to go in without any hindrance,” he added.
Those who complain of extortion patronise tout- Operator
Chief Operating Officer of TTP, Mr. Dayo Adeboye, however, said those complaining of extortion are drivers who patronize touts.
He said the instructions on the Eto portal is simply such that one can register online on one’s phone.
“But rather, they would prefer to ask touts to do the registration for them” he added.
He however noted that there are still hitches at the Mile-2 end of the Apapa-Oshodi Express approach to the ports due to ongoing construction works there.
Urgent review and independent audit needed- experts
President of Printing, Paper, Publishing Group of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Princess Layo Okeowo confirmed that the e-call-up system is not effective as it delays deliveries.
She, therefore, stressed the need to urgently review the system.
Also, the CEO of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf affirmed that evidently there are serious issues around the e- call-up initiative.
According to him, it is a matter involving multiple stakeholders with different centres of authority and chain of command.
He stressed the need for an urgent review and independent audit of the system to get a model that would work.
“There are also issues within the ports and the cargo clearing ecosystem which are contributory factors to the delay across the entire chain. It is a rather complicated and complex matter which requires a thorough understanding,” he said.
