The Nigerian Ports Authority says it has designated a truck park with over 3,500 capacity comprising 17 truck parks that can be used for haulage of various kinds of cargos.
In a statement by its Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications Division, Ibrahim Nasiru, the NPA said the new categorisation was 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 its environs.
According to him, under the new system, conducive environment has been provided for export cargo.
He said that truckers in this category were encouraged to ensure the completion of all documentations required by the Nigeria Customs Service, terminal operators and shipping lines before approaching the ports.
He said failure to complete these documentations would led to denial of access to the ports.
Nasiru also warned that transporters and truck owners who failed to use the approved truck parks based on the categorisation would not be able to access any of the country’s seaports.
The NPA appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment towards ending the truck congestion through the enforcement of extant rules.
It also expressed gratitudet to all stakeholders and associations for their cooperation towards the successful implementation of the regime of reforms, and asked for continued support to make the new system even more efficient.
The statement said, “The authority is pleased that operations have justified the conviction that we have finally found the solution to the problem of truck congestion on the access roads into the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports”
“Although, we have experienced teething problems as would be expected of innovations like this, the authority is pleased that these issues are being tackled as they arise, and that steady progress is being made in the process”
“As part of efforts to deepen the impact of ETO and make the movement of trucks more seamless, the NPA, after consultations with stakeholders arrived at the following categorisation of trucks parks as batching points for all trucks doing business at the ports: Transporters and truck owners who do not use the approved truck parks based on the categorisation detailed above, would be unable to access the ports.”
