The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that it has perfected plans to introduce the modern trucking system in the nation’s maritime industry in partnership with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello who disclosed this at a forum in Lagos recently said that the process had started and that the system is expected to take off in 18 months time.
According to him,”The Nigerian Shippers’ Council with the adoption of the Nigerian Ports Authority has introduced the modern trucking system and the process has started. Very soon and we are talking of about 18 months time, there will be modern trucking system in Apapa and I hope it will be applied to other areas.
“This means that first of all, we look at the infrastructure, just as Chief Remi has said, infrastructure is being done by the NPA and other stakeholders which is the road. Secondly, the government has come up with a policy that all the ports must be linked with the rail, thirdly, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is also looking at and by the way, modern trucking system means there will be holding bays or truck parks because we found out that at every time in what is called Apapa logistics rings, that is Apapa, Tincan, Orile, Mile 2, there are 5, 000 trucks everyday but what you need is 1, 400, leaving a balance of 3, 600 which are just there doing nothing.
“Trucks are only to be seen only when they are needed, that is when they have cargoes to pick”.
He informed that the process of procurement for the modern trucking system with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) had started so that there would be an electronic gate and there will also be chips on the trucks to enable them track the movement of a particular truck from the office.
“It is not something that you will wait for somebody to open the gate for you, when you don’t have the chip, the gate will not open, this what happens in all the ports I have known and very soon, this will start.
“So, it is the beginning of a reform which has been initiated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council because we know that we cannot afford, no matter how efficient a port or a terminal or a shipping company is, if we don’t have a modern trucking system, then that problem will never be solved.
“But on the way, we have to track the container also to know so that you don’t stay somewhere in Ore and say you are going to spend the night. Immediately you do that, it will alert that that truck has stopped and we will come and find out what the problem is so that people get their cargo or goods delivered on time because time is of the essence in port business”, he said.
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