…Says Relevant Actors must Follow SOP of the Concept, Embrace Automation.
As part of the effort to proffer solution to the shortfalls emanating from the use of ETO Call-UP System by major actors in the industry, the Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, has resolved that all shipping companies must have Empty Container Holding Bay.
Speaking on the theme “Repositioning E-Call-Up System for Optimal Performance”, at a breakfast meeting organized by Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN), Ayodele Durowaiye, Principal Manager, Operations for NPA, who represented the Managing Director of the Authority, Mr. Bello KoKo, noted that with empty container holding bay, all operational movement of trucks that block port access as result of loading bays by shipping companies littering around, will be reduced.
Prior to the adoption of the ETO Call-UP System, according to Mr. Durowaiye, there was presidential intervention to help ease movement around Port and also means of doing business, but this does not yield positive result.
“This is because people were paying excess of N250,000 just to get truck into the port, and there is no guarantee of entering the port. This prompted the Authority to deploy the E-Call-Up System, engaged a tech company called Truck Transit Park, TTP, to resolve the congestion issue amicably.
“Since the adoption of the Concept, it’s practical effect cannot be ignored. For example the turn around time for trucks that used to take 15-17 days has changed to two days maximum. If you monitor the system, you will realize that at the peak of traffic gridlock, freight movement within Lagos metropolis taking a daily container was between 1 million and 1.3million but with the implementation of ETO Call-UP System, the rate crashed back as low as 250,000. These are fact that cannot be deceitful, so we need to make a choice of whether we want to live in the past or move forward. Taking cognizance that moving forward has its own challenges and positive impact,” he stated.
“On Empty Container holding bay policy, Mr. Ayodele explained that every shipping operating within the ETO system must have a holding bay that can hold at least 65 percent of the number of available trucks. “For example, any shipping company that brings in 1000 boxes into the Country monthly, such shipping company must have an holding bay that can take 650 and the holding bay must belong to Nigeria. With this, the remaining 35% will be moving around the country and before they come the ship that brought the 1000 must take a minimum of 850-900 empty boxes either as an export or empties outside the Country,” he emphasized.
Also Speaking on ease of doing business and achieving free movement within Apapa Corridor at the meeting, APapa Port Manager, Charles Okaga, stressed the need for government authorities responsible for the regulation of activities in Apapa to have Call-UP System.
His words, “The roads leading to APapa were built strictly for Port/Dry Cargo Operations and this was when Lagos has a population of seven million and we know that the population is today. The road today has also being taken over by 50/60 percent wet Cargo Operations. There is need for us to holistically look at this together as Nigerians and not from a single point. TinCan Island – Mile 2 has been rehabilitated and ready for use. Our appeal to Stakeholders is to prevail on the government authorities that are responsible for the regulations of these activities. Let them also have Call -Up System, there will be peace once tanker issue on TinCan Island road is resolved”.
On his part, Adekunle Ojo, Operations Performance Manager, Truck Transit Park, emphasized that relevant actors should embrace automation, run it, administer it as done in other developed countries in order to achieve productivity, profitability and improvement that will impact positively on the nation’s economy.
To him, “All Stakeholders in the industry took the right decision to embrace automation, that is TTP is available to carry out the automation system for the Truck Parking Management System within our port. There has been tremendous improvements- reduced cost of accessing Port, reduce time it takes for trucks to access the Ports among others. It’s important to note that for every system adopted in this world, there is room for improvement. The automation TTP deployed in Nigeria today is in line with Global Best Practice. But our inability to follow Standard Operating Procedures for the system is responsible for where we are today, terminal capacity diversion of trucks within the Port, issues of people faking ETO Call-UP System, faking MSS are also challenge faced in running this Concept. However, if we follow the SOP, we will achieve top notch improvement. Let’s join together to embrace ETO Call-UP System and run it, administer it the way it should be done, I can tell you efficiency, productivity, profitability and improvement that will impact our national economy will be achieved,” he said.
