NPA, LASG collaborating to address Apapa gridlock

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Government (LASG) are working in agreement to find lasting solution to the problem of the gridlock hurting business operations in Apapa port city.

In that regard, the acting Managing Director of the NPA, Mr. Muhammed Bello-Koko, on Saturday met with the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to adopt stronger measures to curb corrupt practices and alleged extortion of truck drivers by traffic and security operatives along the Lagos ports corridor.

Bello-Koko alongside the Executive Director Marine and Operations, other management staff, including port managers of Lagos Ports Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex, Managing Directors of Apapa Bulk Terminal and Dangote Port Operations among other stakeholders, held a meeting with  Gov. Sanwo-Olu and his team at the Lagos House in Marina.

Speaking at the meeting, the NPA Acting MD emphasised the need to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws along the Apapa and Tin Can Ports roads.

He said that the NPA had been inundated with complaints of extortions from truckers, especially by security operatives, including the Military, the Police and NPA Security, demanding money from drivers before accessing the Ports.

He described the ugly practice as a major disincentive to the smooth implementation of the truck call-up system.

Bello-Koko lamented that it had been alleged that no less than thirty “toll-points” have sprung up around the Apapa and Tin Can Port, where bribes were being collected before trucks were allowed into the Port.

After a closed- door meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Bello-Koko told newsmen that “one of the complaints of the truckers has to do with extortion by security operatives, the Army, the Police, the Nigerian Navy and even NPA Security staff.

“This is one of the areas we require the intervention of Government, in this case, the Lagos State Government, because we have police officers who are deployed from the State Command, and are allegedly involved in this.

“We at the NPA have resolved to take the right punitive measures against any of our staff involved in this, we have moved some of them out of Port  locations, and we will do further reviews, whoever is found involved, would be appropriately sanctioned.

“Because of the involvement of several security units, many checkpoints have been created, we believe there are over thirty checkpoints within the Apapa and Tin-Can Port axis, and we believe that this is a major issue causing delays and a whole lot of problems, this was one of the concerns we raised at our meeting with His Excellency,” he said.

The NPA boss acknowledged that the Lagos State Government had been a close partner, especially when it comes to enforcement, both in terms of providing security operatives and monitoring of the “Eto” call-up system, he however said there is need to further strengthen that collaboration.

He explained that last week after an assessment visit, he directed the “Eto” Project Consultant and operator of the Lilypond Truck Transit Park to redouble their efforts, especially on the deployment of necessary physical and IT infrastructure as well as adequate human resources, to address the gaps and complaints of delay from Port users.

He said that the Authority had given the TTP company “marching orders” to immediately see to the deployment of the infrastructure, in order to reduce the waiting time of trucks in and out of the Port.

Bello-Koko further said that the meeting discussed the matter of poor access roads, especially around Sunrise Bus-stop leading to the Tin Can Port.

“The situation now is that trucks going to Tin Can are now following the Apapa Port road, so no matter how much you control the traffic in Apapa, it would be seen as if you are doing nothing.

“NPA has reached out to the Federal Ministry of Works, we have been speaking with the Director of Works in the State, and we have asked that they should provide some palliatives around Sunrise Bus-stop.

“We were made to understand that the contract for that section of the road has just been awarded, but because of the rains, work has been delayed. There is need for that part of the road to be graded so that the Tin-Can Port corridor would begin to enjoy some measure of free flow of traffic,” he said.

Bello-Koko added that “We have stakeholders like Dangote and others who have factories within the Port and each of them may need to bring in about 300 trucks daily, but it has to be done in such a way that their operations does not affect the need of other port users to send in their trucks or exporters to send in and bring their trucks out freely.

“Mr. Governor has given his commitments to further engage the Commissioner of Police in Lagos; he has also directed the CEO of LASTMA and his Special Assistants, who all have given their commitments that further action would be taken to keep the Port roads free of congestion.

“It will be a 24- hour operations, and we rely on the Lagos State Government on enforcement as it affects traffic along the Port access roads, His Excellency has given us his commitment to that effect and for immediate actions to be taken.”

The NPA Boss expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration with the Lagos State Government would bring an end to the perennial gridlock within and around the Apapa metropolis.

He restated that henceforth, trucks that have not been registered or do not have the “Eto” ticket would not have access to the Port.

“We want residents of Apapa to be able to commute daily without stress. We need to also ensure that containers go into the Port and come out smoothly, we believe that with this meeting, solutions have been found, NPA would play its part and the Government of Lagos would play its part.

“We have directed TTP to deploy necessary infrastructure such as bollards, spikes and automated barriers, while CCTVs be fully installed at the port gates (entry and exit points), especially at the TInCan Island Port where such equipment are practically non-existent at the moment. Similarly, operators of approved parks and holding bays should immediately take steps to install such equipment in their terminals,” he added.

He also spoke on efforts by the Authority to address the many setbacks associated with the return of empty containers to the Port.

He explained that the empty container policy of NPA required all shipping companies bringing boxes into the country to establish holding bays for their containers.

His words: “Shipping lines are to have holding bays capable of handling 50 – 65 percent of their monthly throughput. These companies are aware of the consequences of non-compliance. There is an ongoing assessment of parameters required for the release of 2021 licences and the report is due any moment. That (report) would determine qualification of a shipping line to operate in the country.”

Bello-Koko further said that efforts were on to significantly improve the transfer and processing of exports at the Port.

“The Authority is collaborating with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to establish a seamless integration of the export processing terminals into the “Eto” platform.

“This in addition to the Lilypond Export Terminal expected to take off soon, will serve as dedicated export loading points. The move would reduce travel time along the port corridor, safeguard the quality of the country’s exports and impact positively on government’s revenue from non-oil exports”, the NPA MD said.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Sanwo-Olu gave assurances that the state would work closely with the NPA in ensuring that that truck call-up system is successful and the nation’s economy benefits optimally.

During his interactive session with port stakeholders, Sanwo-Olu called on all port users to be alert to their responsibilities in putting an end to the gridlock in Apapa.

He said there was need for Port service providers, security agencies and NPA to adhere to their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as well as invest in the needed infrastructure which would galvanise the “Eto” system to heightened performance.

He assured that the State Government would commence engagements with the petroleum tanker drivers, tank farm owners and the NUPENG Union, to ensure that they are factored into the “Eto” call-up system.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the poor state of the Sunrise Bus-stop corridor had been identified as the major cause of the traffic congestion into the Tin Can Island Port, and there is need for the contractors to speed up work around that area.

On his part, General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Jide Oduyoye, said that Port users should expect a renewed vigour from LASTMA in dealing with the traffic situation around the Lagos Ports.

He said, “There are issues of tankers that are not part of the “Eto” system that needs to be part of the system, because once the roads are cleared, we suddenly find out that the petrol tankers occupy the roads which makes it look as if nothing has happened.

“The ongoing construction around Apapa needs to be sped up. There is also the need for other road users to co-operate with the Government. If there is a process that we all adhere to, no matter the delay, it would be seen as fair and beneficial to everyone,” he advised.