Tank farms, poor road network still impeding truck movement, says TTP

The Managing Director of Trucks Transit Parks (TTP) Limited, Mr. Jama Onwubuariri, has said despite successes recorded with the electronic call-up system, activities of tank farms, as well as, the oil and gas vehicles are impeding the movement of ports and other manufacturing trucks.

He said while the platform has over 85,000 trucks registered on ETO with about 8,500 users and 90 parks electronically connected, the dilapidated access roads in and out of Tin Can and Apapa ports as well as the civil works and multiple road construction, are challenges affecting successful implementation of the system.

Onwubuariri also pointed at the increased customer complaints about the ineffective enforcement of the call-up system, collusion with truck owners and drivers to circumvent the process as well as extortion and imposition of illegal fees on truck drivers and owners, as existential threats to the success of the electronic system.

He listed other challenges to include, including indiscriminate parking of trucks at pre-gates and on the road searching for Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) and transporters’ collusion with operators to pre-gate their trucks by proxy to circumvent the ETO laid down procedure for tuck movement.

Meanwhile, the Head of Corporate Development, TTP, Mr. Richard Emenim, said the firm is not unperturbed about the challenges, as it aims to become a globally recognised technology company that is focused on solving traffic management challenges in major cities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Giving future projections, Emenim said the firm seeks to deepen its penetration and continuously improve the electronic call-up system for Apapa and Tin can ports axis that will cut across the entire port and non-port trucks

He said others include, engaging and collaborating with relevant state governments and stakeholders for the extension and implementation of the electronic call-up system for other ports and states.

Emenim said the firm seeks to develop customised technology mobility solutions and some other identified challenges in the logistics and shipping value chain.