Economy
GLOBALLY and especially in an unorganised setting, port congestion, caused by vehicular gridlock always have adverse effect on national economy due to associated delay, traffic bottleneck and extra-time of voyage of ships and cargo at the port.
This occurs with unpleasant consequences on logistics and supply-chain and it often translates into extra-overhead cost, loss of trade and disruption of trade and transport agreements.
To this effect, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), about four years ago, introduced the electronic call-up system for trucks at the Lagos’ ports to end the gridlock witnessed on the road.
The e-call-up system was launched alongside an app called, ‘ETO’, which truckers are expected to use to book turns to enter the port.
However, importers, clearing agents and truck owners had expressed optimism with the introduction of the system, but over three years down the line, the system seems to have collapsed as it was riddled with extortion, corruption and other unpleasant ethos.
Dr Kayode Farinto, a former acting President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), agrees that that the system has been embedded with corruption and challenged the authorities on the untold situation.
Farinto believes that the e-call-up system was a good idea when it was initially introduced, but the Nigerian factor later crept in with its attendant corrupt practices.
“This is to the extent that some people who have been given pass do not have terminals. It has been bastardised.
“It has been embedded with a high level of serious corruption and I fear for the industry because I remember I predicted that if the e-call-up system fails, then the industry is doomed.
“The e-call-up system is failing now because the intentions of establishing it is being defeated with the grounds going to the highest bidder.
“The so-called terminal owners or the temporary holding bay for trucks were not even inspected, and it has been alleged that civil servants are now given terminals just like the operators,” he said.
Farinto pointed out that it was unfortunate that the corrupt-ridden system has gone haywire but pleaded with the federal government to wade into the matter towards resolution.
“If they cannot sustain the system after two years, we are really afraid.
“We are going back to another gridlock; people who are geniuely waiting to leave the port are on the que while some people are circumventing it because it belongs to the highest bidder.
“In the next three, four weeks, if something is not done by federal government, I am afraid, we will go back to where we left before,” he opined.
Farinto advised the federal government to remove the e-call-up from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) because some officials of the government agency have actually bastardized the system with corruption.
“The body that is saddled with that responsibility would have performed well, but because they are at the beck and call of NPA, they can not really do much.
“Even now, freight forwarders are not accessing their system, making things bad. Yesterday, I loaded a container for N700,000. It’s as bad as that. Something urgently must be done to address this situation.
“The fault is on NPA because we shouted that the various security officers in the port have been there in the past several years, rotating themselves, they are the same set that man the various point and joints that have truck accessing the port, it is very bad.
“They are not doing the work for federal government, but for themselves. So, the e-call-up system is a complete failure now,’ he said.
Also commenting, Mrs Onome Monije, Public Relations Officer, ANLCA Tincan Chapter, recommends that the NPA top echelon should reshuffle their staff, to supervise the affair at the various points to put an end to to corruption.
“The e-call-up is a failure on the Tincan side because the TTP is not really working. NPA staff under their management, especially around that Tincan corridor, collect N50,000 to N100,000 before any truck can pass from the first gate, “he alleges.
“When we get to the national, they also collect about N30,00 to N50,000; so it’s like the highest bidder. Corruption has taken over the ease of trucking in Tincan,’ she said.
Monije reveals her encouter with some drivers, who claimed that they usually spend almost five to seven days on the queue because they refuse to bribe NPA officials.
“If a N100,000 bribe is given, the officials would ensure seamless transit, they would give.
“But it also comes back to us freight forwarders because some of us do dock-to-dock. By the time they spend N100,000 in that corridor, they add another N200,000 for trucking for us, its not really helpful,’ she claims.
Also, truck owners under the aegis of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), also advocated the end of the call-up regime, ETO, to prevent further crisis.
Meanwhile, COMTUA President, Adeyinka Aroyewun, says the implementation of the regime has resulted in frequent peaceful protests that may escalate into potential crises due to the failure of the system if not addressed.
“Over the past few months, it has become increasingly evident that the call-up regime has been marred by numerous issues, including favouritism, prolonged turn-around time, extortion, and racketeering
“These problems have created an environment of inefficiency and unfairness, leading to growing frustration among stakeholders in the port system.
“One of the major concerns is the prevalence of favouritism within the call-up regime; it has been observed that certain trucking companies and individuals receive preferential treatment, leading to an uneven playing field.
“This does not only undermine the integrity of the system but also create a sense of injustice among other participants,” he explains.
Aroyewun adds that the prolonged turn-around time for trucks entering and exiting the ports was causing significant delay and disruption in the supply chain.
He says out that this delay adversely affects businesses, leading to financial loss and decreased productivity, explaining that the call-up regime, in its current form, is failing to address this critical issue efficiently.
NAN reports that the NPA on Dec. 14, in response to an outburst on its official X page says they always engage with their partners and those they collaborate with on the e-call up project to address corruption complaints against their personnel.
“For us as an organisation, disciplinary action is regularly taken against any of our personnel found to have compromised their position; this is a continuous process,” the NPA explains. (NAN feature)
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-December 30, 2023 @ 17:29 GMT|
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