Apapa Gridlock: Why Terminal Operators Should Introduce Call-Up System, by Shippers Council
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called on terminal operators to rise to the challenge of being able to determine the number of trucks they need to enter their terminals on daily basis.
This, according to the Council will help in enthroning an effective truck call up system in the terminals.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Barr Hassan Bello made the call recently during a stakeholders meeting it organised on how to tackle the gridlock in Apapa port area for an efficient port environment.
Bello who was represented on the occasion by the Director, Consumer Services, Chief Cajetan Agu explained that it was better for the terminals to say how many trucks they can handle on daily basis before the trucks can go into their terminals.
According to him, this was better than turning any truck back after arriving the terminals, explaining that it will instead worsen the gridlock on the port environment.
According to him, “For the call up system to work, we must look at the efficiency of the terminal operators, they must tell us the minimum number of trucks they can accept in a day.
“A situation where they are refusing to accept trucks into their facilities is causing problems”.
Bello also called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to do everything possible so that the Lillypond Terminal and the Truck Park at Tin-Can Island Port can be used for optimal results.
The two truck parks, he said, will tackle the gridlock effectively.
The NSC also called on the Lagos State Government to introduce mobile courts in Apapa for offenders to be tried for traffic offences.
“The first is that the Lillypond terminal and the truck park at Tin Can Port must be put to use.
“On the issue of corruption, if it is possible, we will liaise with the Lagos State Government to give us a mobile court, let there be a mobile court, if you are found guilty, you should be tried and jailed.”
The Council also said that 48 truck parks have been identified where trucks can wait until called into the ports.
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