Decongestion: Respite As NPA Electronic Call-Up System Takes Off Today

Importers, clearing agents and truck owners have expressed
optimism as the electronic call-up system (ETO) of the Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA) begins today.

This was even as they call for a functional holding bay by
shipping companies for return of empty containers before the
commencement of the ETO.

Recall that NPA had announced the launch of Eto, an Electronic
Truck call-up system designed for the management of truck movement
and access to and from the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can
Island Ports, Apapa, Lagos.

The authority said all trucks doing business at the ports would
be required to park at the approved truck parks until they are
called up into the port through the Eto app. The Eto app will be
responsible for the scheduling, entry & exit of all trucks into the
ports with effect from 27th Feb. 2021.

The NPA also stated that about 7000 trucks have been certified
fit for the proposed digitalized call-up system, revealing that
effective from 27th of February, 2021, trucks must approach the
ports from a holding bay or truck parks with a bar code to access
the ports.

However, maritime stakeholders have expressed optimism toward
the commencement of the system saying the electronic call-up system
will end corruption on the port access road.

While the Vice Chairman, National Association of Road Transport
Owners (NARTO), Dry Cargo section, Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa, said the
call-up system will end artificial bottleneck necks on the port
access road, the National Vice president Association of Nigerian
Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Kayode said unless the port
access roads are fixed it may not yet be uhuru.

Abdulahi said, “if started in good faith, we assure that we
(stakeholders) should cooperate and allow it work then we will get
good result. Actually, if it takes off successfully, it will
eradicate corruption, no human contact and other artificial
bottlenecks so, NARTO wishes the authority a successful
takeoff.

Speaking further, “The motive is to take trucks off the road
but, NPA should involve other garages where trucks are parked so as
to successfully decongest the road,” he advised

Also speaking, the National Vice president, Association of
Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto urged the
NPA management to be steadfast in enforcing the call-up system.

According to him, the ongoing construction of the Oshodi-Apapa
expressway must also be completed in good time because of no
call-up system without a good road.

His word, “The road should be put in adequate place because
there is nothing the call-up can achieve without a proper port
access road.”

Farinto, a former chairman, Tin-Can Island Command, ANLCA said
shipping companies must be compelled to have a functional holding
bay for the return of empty containers.

His words, “Also, shipping companies should put up a holding bay
for empty containers because without an efficient holding bay, is
there a way the policy can be achieved?” he asked.

He continued, “NPA should also decisively take over the system
and prevent the security agencies from hijacking it. They must
totally remove human contact but how to achieve that I still don’t
know because Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) will still be generated
manually.

“Also, there is nothing on ground to show that it will be
electronic and like I said, human contact must be completely
eliminated because what is happening on port access road is an
eyesore that is giving stakeholders sleepless nights,” he
concluded.

Importers, clearing agents and truck owners have expressed
optimism as the electronic call-up system (ETO) of the Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA) begins today.

This was even as they call for a functional holding bay by
shipping companies for return of empty containers before the
commencement of the ETO.

Recall that NPA had announced the launch of Eto, an Electronic
Truck call-up system designed for the management of truck movement
and access to and from the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can
Island Ports, Apapa, Lagos.

The authority said all trucks doing business at the ports would
be required to park at the approved truck parks until they are
called up into the port through the Eto app. The Eto app will be
responsible for the scheduling, entry & exit of all trucks into the
ports with effect from 27th Feb. 2021.

The NPA also stated that about 7000 trucks have been certified
fit for the proposed digitalized call-up system, revealing that
effective from 27th of February, 2021, trucks must approach the
ports from a holding bay or truck parks with a bar code to access
the ports.

However, maritime stakeholders have expressed optimism toward
the commencement of the system saying the electronic call-up system
will end corruption on the port access road.

While the Vice Chairman, National Association of Road Transport
Owners (NARTO), Dry Cargo section, Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa, said the
call-up system will end artificial bottleneck necks on the port
access road, the National Vice president Association of Nigerian
Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Kayode said unless the port
access roads are fixed it may not yet be uhuru.

Abdulahi said, “if started in good faith, we assure that we
(stakeholders) should cooperate and allow it work then we will get
good result. Actually, if it takes off successfully, it will
eradicate corruption, no human contact and other artificial
bottlenecks so, NARTO wishes the authority a successful
takeoff.

Speaking further, “The motive is to take trucks off the road
but, NPA should involve other garages where trucks are parked so as
to successfully decongest the road,” he advised

Also speaking, the National Vice president, Association of
Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto urged the
NPA management to be steadfast in enforcing the call-up system.

According to him, the ongoing construction of the Oshodi-Apapa
expressway must also be completed in good time because of no
call-up system without a good road.

His word, “The road should be put in adequate place because
there is nothing the call-up can achieve without a proper port
access road.”

Farinto, a former chairman, Tin-Can Island Command, ANLCA said
shipping companies must be compelled to have a functional holding
bay for the return of empty containers.

His words, “Also, shipping companies should put up a holding bay
for empty containers because without an efficient holding bay, is
there a way the policy can be achieved?” he asked.

He continued, “NPA should also decisively take over the system
and prevent the security agencies from hijacking it. They must
totally remove human contact but how to achieve that I still don’t
know because Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) will still be generated
manually.

“Also, there is nothing on ground to show that it will be
electronic and like I said, human contact must be completely
eliminated because what is happening on port access road is an
eyesore that is giving stakeholders sleepless nights,” he
concluded.