Following the recent flag off of the implementation of the minimum safety standard for trucks by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for all trucks operating in its premises at the Western ports, stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry have hailed the courage of the authority to have finally commenced the programme after many years of postponement.
The stakeholders who aired their feeling on Primetime Reporters’ social media platform congratulated the agency for the feat describing it as laudable and capable of reducing accidents on the road as a result of containers falling off the moving trucks.
In his opinion, the Chairman, Association of Igbo Maritime Forum, Lillypond/Ijora chapter, Chief Lawrence Ubah gave kudos to NPA for having the courage to start off the exercise even as he wished the agency more strength to move from the minimum standard to maximum standard.
According to him,” Kudos to NPA for having the courage to start off. I wish them more strength and pray for them that they move from there to maximum standard for our benefit and for the good of the nation”.
Also corroborating chief Ubah’s position, the Deputy National President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Comrade Ben Ndee commended NPA on what he called laudable move saying that container accidents do not chose would be victims.
He said,” I earnestly congratulate NPA on this laudable move and equally agree with you Austin (Chief Ubah) as container accidents do not choose would be victims”.
It will be recalled that the General Manager Western Ports of NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi in a welcome address on the flag off ceremony in Lagos on Thursday enumerated the gains of the exercise to include; that it will afford the NPA the opportunity of data collection for traffic/infrastructure planning purpose, facilitate identification of every truck through the database to prevent sharp practices like theft and diversion of cargoes, serve as a security measure to prevent any threat or security breach to the port in compliance with the ISPS Code and serve as platform to ensure minimum standard for truck entering the port in compliance with the international safety standards.
Ajayi informed that information concerning the registration number, ownership address and annual sticker number issued would be made available on NPA portal to advice terminal operators and clearing agents on trucks that are cleared to access the ports.
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