Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has written a letter to the managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), expressing concerns regarding the implementation of the call-up system (ETO) by Truck Transit Park Limited over the past four years.
In a letter to the NPA signed by its President, Prince Adeyinka Aroyewun, a copy of which was made available to Business Hilights in Lagos, COMTUA observed that “It has come to our attention that there are numerous irregularities associated with this system, and it is imperative that these issues are addressed promptly.
“One major concern is the lack of authority and control that the Nigerian Ports Authority has over the terminals to which trucks are destined and containers are domiciled. It is essential to note that the management and control of these terminals do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Therefore, the practice of determining truck movements and container matching through Truck Transit Park Limited to terminals appears to be a means of extorting innocent truckers.
“Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity regarding the legislation that empowers Truck Transit Park Limited to impose charges for services such as booking, container matching, and TDO. These charges raise questions about transparency and accountability within the call-up system.
“It is our firm belief that terminals should have the autonomy to determine their own operational schedules, including the offloading of vessels, loading of trucks, and offloading of empty containers. Any interference by external parties, such as Truck Transit Park Limited, could disrupt the efficiency and effectiveness of terminal operations.
“The concession of terminals to private companies was necessitated by the failure of the Nigerian Ports Authority to manage the same. The congestion on the port access road is caused by the desperation of NPA to generate revenue through TTP from truckers.
“Furthermore, satellite parks are registered and made compulsory for trucks before heading to Transit Parks; however, conditions were set for the parks, but they exist only on paper, serving as a means of rewarding conspirators in the fraud.
“I challenge the Nigerian Ports Authority to release a list of the garages and allow for a joint inspection.
“It is concerning that trucks in military colors make daily trips to the port, while others struggle to complete two trips in a month. The use of fraudulent documents and nomenclature to confer priority on certain trucks forms the basis of the racket in the system.
“With the call-up system in place, trucks are scheduled for movement and should only take a few hours to complete their tasks. However, the current state of affairs suggests a significant gap between the intended efficiency of the system and its actual implementation.
“It is expected that with the call-up system, trucks are scheduled for movement and will only take a few hours to complete; after four (4) years, we are at the same point where congestion is the order of the day.
Co-conspirators are engaged in a false name of stakeholders weekly, yet the situation has not improved.
We may need to advise you to take responsibility for any breakdown of law and other resulting from illicit revenue generation through the fraudulent call-up system.
We are not deceived by the free flow of traffic on the Tincan corridor; it is merely an indication of draught in cargo for trucks in the terminals around there.
“After the official certification of trucks by VIO and FRSC, another #15,000 is charged for the MSS sticker. It is claimed that trucks are jointly inspected by the same VIO and FRSC, double taxation; isn’t it?
I advise you to bite the humble pie and call off the fraudulent call-up system before the bubble bursts.”
“In light of these concerns, I urge the Nigerian Ports Authority to conduct a thorough review of the call-up system and address the issues raised to ensure a fair and transparent process for all stakeholders involved.
