Lagos ports: Govt agencies frustrating NPA call-up system
…as extortion returns
By Seun Ibiyemi
Investigation has revealed that government agencies are behind the failure of Electronic call-up system, also known as ETO, introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to solve the problem gridlock on the Apapa and Tin-Can Island port, extortion has returned to the port access roads.
Investigation revealed that truck drivers now get to the NPA gate of Apapa and Tin-Can Island seaports without the ETO – by paying some bribes.
When our reporter visited Apapa port during the week, he discovered that several garages and parks approved by NPA for truck drivers to park their vehicles before accessing the port had since been abandoned as trucks were scattered all over Ijora bridge.
Also findings from source, a truck owner said he pays between N100,000 to N120,000 to securities official and ETO official to get his truck into the seaport
“Last week, the platform stopped working and the barricade was left open. Truck owners were asked to pay N20,000 each after bribing officials of the Nigeria Police and Lagos State Traffic Maintenance Agency (LASTMA) with N80,000 to allow them get to the gate.”
Another truck driver, Jamiu Adetunji said that he had never used the ETO app since it was launched in February to access the port.
“What is ETO? ETO is not working at all. You can see everything for yourself. They just used it to collect our money. All the police and LASTMA people are everywhere only collecting money. Only drivers that pay them can pass into the port. Everything has failed.
“To enter the port is not about ETO, it’s about money. You pay police and LASTMA and you enter the port. They are just deceiving us,” Adetunji said.
The Vice President, National Association Of Road Transport Owner, Albudullahi Inuwa speaking exclusively to Nigerian NewsDirect said that some government agencies on the port access road are frustrating the effort of NPA to bring sanity to Apapa environment
According to him, there is divided interest among agencies responsible for controlling traffic on the port access road.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had designated another 17 truck parks to complement its existing garages under its electronic call-up system, also known as ETO.
This new categorisation is designed to fine-tune the platform with a view to solving the teething challenges associated with ETO in the last two weeks.
The president, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi also confirmed the return of extortion, saying NPA should re-strategise before the system collapses finally.
Ogungbemi, who has been calling for an automated traffic system over the years, said: “I want to agree that extortion has returned, rightly or wrongly, because trucks that have valid ETO documents find it difficult to access the seaports while trucks without documents are given access after under-the-table dealing. Also, there is divided interest between the NPA, Lagos State Government and the operator of the ETO.”
On the way out of the quagmire, Ogungbemi urged NPA to go back to the drawing board before the system gets worse.
“There is divided interest among NPA, LASTMA and the operator of ETO. But I will advise NPA to restrategise before the system gets beyond what it is. This is because I can confirm that bribery and corruption have returned and should be stopped,” he said.
According to a statement by the Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Ibrahim Nasiru, the authority warned exporters to complete documentation to avoid been denied access into the seaport.
The new categorisation 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.
