Electronic Call-up system: NPA Boss talks tough
*Says shipping companies must provide holding bays
(Written by Silas Onuoha) :
NPA MD:
As Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), is putting measures in place for the Electronic Truck Call-up system to commence by February 27, 2021, the Authority is telling shipping companies to provide holding bays for empty containers.
The Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, disclosed this in a virtual meeting.
The NPA Boss said that shipping firms must live up their responsibility in providing holding bays.
She warned that the Authority would come hard on companies failing to provide holding bays for their empty containers, at least 65 percent of their annual take.
She Added, “importers and agents would be qualified for refund of container deposits whenever empty boxes find their way to such holding bays.”
Speaking further, Usman revealed that eight (8) truck parks have already been approved as parking lots for truckers doing business in Lagos ports.
This, she said would ensure successful kick-off of the E-Call-up system, meant to address
traffic crisis on ports access roads.
The NPA Boss called on truckers to ensure total compliance with the E-Call-up procedures, in order to avoid sanctions.
She stressed, “From that particular date, any truck found on Apapa port access roads, not duly approved to ply the roads must be impounded.”
Usman also said that the Authority would ensure stricter licensing procedure for barge operations in the nation’s waters, in order to
stem abuses the port sector has been subjected to by stakeholders.
