The National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators has blamed the high rate of unprocessed Electronic Call-Up System, known as Eto, as the major reason the platform failed to address the Apapa traffic gridlock.
The National President of NAFFAC, Yinka Bakare, gave the explanation in a telephone conversation with Financial Street in Lagos at the weekend.
He said the capacity is not there to effectively drive the application.
“Upon commencement, the Eto system recorded 3,000 entries, but in two weeks the number rose to about 15,000 unprocessed Eto. And these are some of the things that may not allow the traffic madness on our roads to be addressed, because the capacity is not there to drive the application effectively.”
Bakare expressed disappointment over the Eto system introduced by Nigeria Ports Authority, pointing out that traffic will continue to linger due to lack of infrastructure.
While calling on promoters of the deep seaport in Lekki to expedite action for the possible completion, the NAFFAC boss maintained that traffic could be reduced upon commencement of the new seaports.
“The terminal operators are complaining of congestion because of the slow pace movement of consignments in and out of the ports,” he said.
He also lauded the leadership of Barge Operators Association of Nigeria for its efforts in engaging stakeholders on safety measures for cargo movement on the waterways.
Bakare, nevertheless, pointed out that in the last two years, accident on the inland waters leading to huge losses of consignments was at its barest minimal.
He maintained that accident on the waterways was inevitable, but added that the association was able to sensitise its members on prerequisite knowledge of such operations.
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