NPA raises surveillance team on truck standard

THE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has constituted a surveillance team to certify the quality of trucks operating within the ports in Lagos corridor.

A statement issued by the NPA yesterday explained that members of the team drawn from the Western Ports Headquarters, Lagos Ports Complex {LPC] and Tin Can Island Port Complex [TCIPC] are now involved in the physical inspection of trucks, “to ensure that only trucks which comply with stipulated safety standards are allowed entrance into the ports within the Lagos area”.

The statement signed by NPA’s General Manager (Public Affairs), Capt.
Capt.Iheanacho Ebubeogu quoted leader of the team, David Adeola, an engineer as saying the work of the team has started yielding positive results, as a number of trucks are daily “prevented from entering the LPC due to their poor road worthiness”.

He expressed optimism that if the minimum standards of roadworthiness are enforced on all trucks admitted for operations in the Ports and the Terminal Operators adhering strictly to it, it will eventually eliminate cases of mishap within and outside the Ports due to faulty and substandard trucks.

According to him, the minimum standard for trucks entering the port includes amongst others truck head, body, braking system, engine, battery, trafficators, warning devices, twist locks and other fittings.

The statement quoted Chairman; Association of Maritime Transport Owners [AMATO] Chief Remi Ogungbemi as saying the Association is in full support of the surveillance duties of the Safety Department of Nigerian Ports Authority to ensure the safety of other road users.

Ogungbemi, who reiterated that the enforcement of the safety standard is necessary for all trucks in the nations Seaports, assured that the Association was already educating its members on the benefits of acquiring and having standard trucks for their effective operation.

The statement added: “AGM Security [Western Ports] Sam Asamaige, who said the department has always supported the Safety Department whenever they embark on the truck surveillance duties explained that some truck owners are complying strictly to the rules”.