Apapa Gridlock: NPA, AMATO Clash Over Impounded Trucks

TRUCK owners, under the aegis of the Association of Maritime
Truck Owners AMATO, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, are
currently on a collision course over some impounded trucks that
attempted to circumvent the Electronic Call-Up system.

The leadership of AMATO has called on the NPA to urgently
release all trucks impounded by the Lagos State Special Traffic and
Enforcement Team.

The group said the impounded trucks had valid call-up tickets, a
claim the NPA has debunked.

In a statement issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting,
yesterday, held at the AMATO headquarters in Apapa, the truck
owners alleged that there were irregularities and corruption in the
NPA’s call-up system, noting that fake call-up tickets are
currently in circulation.

It also expressed worry that this development may further
truncate the newly introduced system.

The statement reads in part: “Arising from transport
stakeholders meeting at the AMATO secretariat in Apapa, it was
agreed that all members must desist from parking indiscriminately
on the port access roads for sake of traffic sanity.

“The Nigerian Ports Authority, Lagos State Government and
Transit Truck Park, TTP, Limited, TPP, must investigate and take
action on the reason some trucks, without valid call-up tickets,
are gaining access into the ports faster than trucks with valid
call-up tickets.

“Being the regulator of the Electronic Call-up system, the
Nigerian Ports Authority ETO automation system, the Lagos State
Government and TTP should ensure the unconditional release of all
trucks with valid call-up tickets impounded by the Lagos State
Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA on the port access roads.

“There should be a formation of a delegate team to engage the
Lagos State Government, NPA, Nigerian Shippers Council, on the
unlawful towing of trucks, slamming of outrageous charges and
securing the release of trucks with valid call-up tickets.”

Speaking to Vanguard, the Chairman of AMATO, Mr. Remi Ogungbemi
said that a meeting was held on Tuesday adding that all relevant
stakeholders were duly notified adding that some of its members
have been directed to do a follow up on the letter sent.

Efforts to reach the NPA for comments were futile as text
messages and phone calls put to Mr. Nasiru Ibrahim were not
returned, neither did he respond to the messages.

TRUCK owners, under the aegis of the Association of Maritime
Truck Owners AMATO, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, are
currently on a collision course over some impounded trucks that
attempted to circumvent the Electronic Call-Up system.

The leadership of AMATO has called on the NPA to urgently
release all trucks impounded by the Lagos State Special Traffic and
Enforcement Team.

The group said the impounded trucks had valid call-up tickets, a
claim the NPA has debunked.

In a statement issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting,
yesterday, held at the AMATO headquarters in Apapa, the truck
owners alleged that there were irregularities and corruption in the
NPA’s call-up system, noting that fake call-up tickets are
currently in circulation.

It also expressed worry that this development may further
truncate the newly introduced system.

The statement reads in part: “Arising from transport
stakeholders meeting at the AMATO secretariat in Apapa, it was
agreed that all members must desist from parking indiscriminately
on the port access roads for sake of traffic sanity.

“The Nigerian Ports Authority, Lagos State Government and
Transit Truck Park, TTP, Limited, TPP, must investigate and take
action on the reason some trucks, without valid call-up tickets,
are gaining access into the ports faster than trucks with valid
call-up tickets.

“Being the regulator of the Electronic Call-up system, the
Nigerian Ports Authority ETO automation system, the Lagos State
Government and TTP should ensure the unconditional release of all
trucks with valid call-up tickets impounded by the Lagos State
Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA on the port access roads.

“There should be a formation of a delegate team to engage the
Lagos State Government, NPA, Nigerian Shippers Council, on the
unlawful towing of trucks, slamming of outrageous charges and
securing the release of trucks with valid call-up tickets.”

Speaking to Vanguard, the Chairman of AMATO, Mr. Remi Ogungbemi
said that a meeting was held on Tuesday adding that all relevant
stakeholders were duly notified adding that some of its members
have been directed to do a follow up on the letter sent.

Efforts to reach the NPA for comments were futile as text
messages and phone calls put to Mr. Nasiru Ibrahim were not
returned, neither did he respond to the messages.