– Risks non-renewal of contract
Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — Even as the management of the Truck Transit Parks Limited, TTPL, rolls out the red carpet to celebrate its third year of providing solutions to the perennial traffic gridlock along the port corridor, truckers have expressed mixed reactions saying that the project has not been able to meet the expectations of truckers in port axis.
While some called for the replacement of TTP, others are saying that the people crying wolf about TTP were the same people that took advantage of the chaotic situation to enrich themselves before TTP came to salvage the situation.
Speaking to SweetcrudeReports, Ridwan Bello, an executive member of NAMTOP said that TTP has only created processes to enrich themselves without zero solutions.
Bello also wondered why some trucks have direct access to pick cargo at the ports while others are waiting endlessly at the various parks.
He suggested that the management of the call up system should be given to some other companies that can provide real time solutions.
He said: “I publicly challenge the Managing Director of TTP to show Nigerians the value the Electronic call up has brought to the ease of doing business around the port corridor.
“Why do we still have some truckers having the opportunity to go directly into the port to lift cargoes while others are suffering in transit parks. They have created processes and not real time solution.
“Yes one cannot totally ignore the fact that perennial traffic around Apapa has reduced but what becomes of Tin-Can where they only erect barriers and there is no infrastructure.
“Three years of raising barriers with no single infrastructure, three years of killing haulage business because I know some people spend as much as three or four weeks in transit parks and they cannot exit to go to the ports. I personally lost ten jobs to this inefficient system being operated by TTP because they refused to process me out of their transit park.
“They should take the electronic call to some other company that will bring realistic solution, something we can see.”
Also commenting, Mr. Sani Mohammed, of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, said that promoters TTP has put in some level of sanity to the trucking business around the port corridor adding that some saboteurs are those saying what is not true about the success story of TTP.
According to Mohammed, before the introduction of the electronic call up system truckers pay as much as N300,000 to access the port and there were people who were collecting these monies.
He stated: “Well if we compare the situation before the coming of TTP and now without any iota of bias and sentiments, they have really done well by the coming of automation of the moving trucks into and out of the ports.
“To some extent, their coming has led to some level of sanity between the pre-gate and the ports. Before the coming TTP, we know how much we used to pay, how importers used to pay to deliver their consignment. Location like Ikeja from Apapa was going for N1.5million to move just one container.
“We knew how much truckers used to pay to access the port, sometimes they pay as much as N300,000 and it takes a minimum of two to three weeks before drivers can access the ports.
“Despites the payments, there is no guarantee that your truck can get into the ports as somebody can turn back from any point.
“It was a state of confusion the life of a truck driver was very brutish, nasty and short and with the coming of Eto, you can see that there is sanity and orderliness, trucks queue from pre-gates to the port and they are released based on request from the terminal’’.
In his comments, the President of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association, COMTUA, Mr. Yinka Aroyewun, commenting on TTPL anniversary, said that instead of alleviating sufferings of truckers, the contrary has been their experience in the last three years.
He said: “We prayed and hoped your introduction was going to alleviate the sufferings of truckers, but on the contrary, we have experienced three years of failure to deliver in the call up regime! It’s truly impressive how you’ve managed to consistently disappoint and frustrate truck drivers for three whole years.
“Your inability to provide a functional call up system is truly a marvel of inefficiency and incompetence. We’re in awe of how you’ve managed to turn what should be a simple process into a nightmare for all involved.
“You claim to the whole world that only Ten Thousand is charged for your services while users actually pay a minimum official fee of between Twenty and Thirty Thousand Naira (depending on the category of cargo).
“You promised a non-human interference in the process, yet, our documents are checked at not less than 30 points before we get into the ports. This has given room for all forms of agencies to take advantage of our members.
“Some have priority over others through your compromised system, other suffer from your gross inefficiencies. The only electronic thing in your system is the mode of money collection.”
Recall that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged the fact that the electronic call system has been compromised hence the government has concluded plans to review the contract and look out for way forward.
TTPL, a logistic technology company specializing in mobility solutions, celebrates not only its journey of innovation and growth but also reflects on the significant impact it has made in the maritime and logistics industry.
In a statement signed by Nancy Nnamdi, Head of Corporate Communication of TTP Managing Director of TTP, Mr. Jama Onwuuariri, said that the company came to revolutionize the maritime and logistics sector in Nigeria through truck mobility solutions powered by technology, TTP has emerged as a key player in driving port terminal efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and creating new business opportunities within the Apapa port economic zone.
Onwubuariri also said TTP recognizes the importance of strategic partnerships with both private and public sector players in the maritime, infrastructure, and technology subsectors. These partnerships will enable TTP to deepen its value-adding services and contribute further to the growth and development of the industry.
“We are committed to actively seeking strategic partnerships with stakeholders across various sectors to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions.
“As part of its commitment to innovation, TTP is also awaiting government approval to deploy for the Apapa and Tin-Can ports, its latest innovations, including Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)/E-tags and the E-Callup Interchange Transaction Number (EITN), which will help to streamline truck movements within Lagos ports, improve security & access control as well as prevent illegal criss-crossing of trucks between terminals. These innovations are poised to further ease truck mobility challenges and enhance efficiency within the industry.
“Nigeria’s strategic location along the west coast of Africa makes us a maritime hub, and with the right initiatives and partnerships, we have the potential to unlock even greater opportunities”.
“Trucks Transit Parks Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to driving positive change, fostering innovation, and creating value for all stakeholders. As it celebrates its 3rd anniversary, TTP looks forward to a future filled with continued growth, collaboration, and success.
“Our third anniversary of operations provides us an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in breaking the barriers to tech adoption in maritime and logistics, but also on the vast opportunities in the industry that are yet untapped,”
“TTP has not only eased congestion but also provided solutions that maximize business opportunities for stakeholders while reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiency.”
