LASG, NPA Talk Tough, arrest trucks parked on the freeway

The Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) have made significant progress in trying to offer a lasting solution to the problem of trucks causing congestion in Apap.

Starting next Saturday, the movement of trucks to and from the seaports of Lagos will now be organized using a transparent electronic telephone call system, which will operate on a first come, first served basis.

Under the new system, no container truck should enter the Apapa corridor without permission from the recall platform. Any truck that mocks the electronic list and parks along the Apapa corridor will be hijacked by a task force already set up by the Lagos state government.

This became known on Tuesday, when Governor Babajide Sanvo-Olu received the Executive Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, at the Alausa State House.

Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism about the transparent electronic calling system, saying the move was the beginning of breaking the Apapa impasse. He said the call platform will be integrated with virtual dashboards that will be placed in strategic locations around seaports where all stakeholders will track container planning.

The governor praised the NPA for its innovative approach to solving the problem of truck traffic in ports, promising that the state government will support efforts to tightly control traffic along the Apapa corridor.

He said: “This is the beginning of a better time for our citizens in the seaports and around Apapa. This electronic system has a limited interface with security agents and trade unions, which usually causes a congestion problem. This will be a simple case of electronic authorization. If you don’t have one, you have no reason to stay in ports.

“To ensure compliance with the new rules, we are using more than enough tow trucks to stop trucks by mistake. The huge amount of fines for violation of the calling system will be a deterrent for drivers not to repeat it. Stakeholders must understand that we are serious about freeing Apapa from the threat that has hurt our citizens living and doing business along the corridor. ”

Sanwo Olu said the state government will send 500 officers from the Lagos State Traffic Administration (LASTMA) to work in partnership with NPA and enforce the new calling rules, ordering the state agency to spare no effort to ensure free traffic flow to Apapa. …

The governor said the state is working on collaboration between the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Corps (FRSC), Technical Inspection Service (VIS) and NPA to check the road quality of trucks before leaving their stations at seaports. This is being done to combat truck accidents on highways, he said.

Sanwo Olu said the call system will be overhauled regularly to support progress and optimize performance.

He said: “We can bring back a better life experience to the residents of Apapa with the new system and improve traffic on routes in the area. The Lagos government is fully committed to ensuring that all the points we agree on are implemented and receive all the support they need. ”

Ms Bala Usman said the visit to the State House was aimed at keeping the Governor informed of the state of the electronic telephone calling platform prior to its full launch. He said the development highlighted NPA’s commitment to addressing the threat of trucks in seaports.

He said that part of the benefits of the new system is the creation of eight approved fleets, where all trucks must first be stationed before they are electronically sent to seaports.

The NPA chief said the electronic system deals with the excuses that truck drivers typically use to park their vehicles on the highway, indicating that any trucks found in ports without electronic authorization will be confiscated.

He said, “The deadline for launching the e-calling system is February 27, 2021, and we are here to strengthen our collaboration with the Lagos State government on implementation and compliance as we begin the process. The new system will be implemented in collaboration with the state. We have been continuously working to ensure that Apapa gets rid of the truck threat.

“All truck owners and stakeholders have been informed about the new development in recent months. Any trucks found in the Apapa corridor without permission to call will be arrested and the government of Lagos will provide a platform to collect any fine. ”

Ms Bala Usman said that the era when people stacked empty containers in seaports is over. He said the empty containers must now be deposited with shipping companies, which must store containers in their cargo storage bays at no cost to the people who own the cargo.