Truck Drivers Now Operate With Three Plate Number Each  Along Ports Corridor – PSTT 

Worried about the latest  gimmick, the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) on Wednesday disclosed that each truck driver operating from the nation’s seaports corridor allegedly have about three vehicle plate numbers with two electronic call up (ETO)  , as part of illegal means to disguise and gain access into the terminals.

Speaking  in Lagos, at the 3rd round table discussion on Maritime Sector Reforms: “Consolidating The Gains,” organised by the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and Convention on Business Integrity (CBI),  National Coordinator of PSTT, Comrade Moses Fadipe who  confirmed the development expressed worries over truck drivers gimmick to frustrate the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) along the port corridors, saying that vehicle plate numbers by truckers are not fixed rather hanged on the dashboard of the windscreen.

Fadipe lamented that unless the government agencies at the port work collectively to address the anomalies, the non state actions will continue to take this advantage to frustrate trade facilitation.

He further  called for a stiffer penalty for perpetrators of the illegal act adding that with exemption to some of the multinationals in the haulage business , most of the truckers are guilty of the development.

Fadipe stressed the need for government agencies to discourage truckers from displaying their vehicle plate number on the dashboard of their windscreen and work out modalities for proper Identification of their vehicles .

The coordinator  maintained that the evidences of impounding some truckers with multiple plate number are enormous at the PSTT office adding that touting activities along must be tackled collectively.

While expressing worries on the sideline of the event in a chat with journalists ,the national coordinator affirmed that’ ”It is not just a statement because we have our evidences and maybe when you visit my office you will understand the evidences of vehicles plate numbers am talking about.

“There is no truck and I can re-emphasise it that there is no truck with one plate number along the port corridors. They have two or three plate  numbers, two , three ETO. Maybe with exemption to some multinationals . A lot of documents are in office and a lot of them are guilty to this act.

According to him,  between June to December 2022 a total of 187 articulated trucks where impounded by PSTT with payment made to the coffers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) amounting to millions before releasing such vehicles from detention.

The National Coordinator stated that PSTT has played a significant role in transforming the sector through its commendable monitoring and enforcement of adherence to the provisions of the Nigerian Port Process Manual NPPM and in its discharge of other ancillary mandates.

Fadipe who doubles as a deputy director at the Nigerian Shipper’s Council said the maritime sector has made significant progress towards promoting efficiency and transparency in recent years.

“The task team’s interventions have led to a reduction in inefficiencies and corruption, and there has been a positive impact on the economy.

“Strict monitoring and enforcement of joint boarding of vessels procedure, transparency in monitoring, strict monitoring of joint cargo examinations, and the dismantling of illegal checkpoints and extortion points have all contributed to the improvement of the sector,” he said.

Earlier the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani who was represented by Director Maritime Services , Mr. Babatunde Sule said

that port administration policy is such that port users are able to demand, track, and ensure greater compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by Government agencies, incidences of corrupt demands as it ‘relates to vessel clearance have reduced.

However, she hinted that government capacity to establish policy on compliance systems and collaborate with the private sector and civil society to improve trade flows and the ease of doing business are being strengthened.

“The Federal Ministry of Transportation through the NSC, the Technical Unit on Government and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in collaboration with the MACN and CBI, Nigeria have built maritime sector is poised to augment its standing by further institutionalizing and continuously sustain its reforms,” she added.

Also speaking , the Mr. Soji Apampa , Co -founder and Executive Director of Convention Business Integrity (CBI) stated that there are some challenges at the eastern ports that must be addressed adding that the setbacks at the  western seaports have been addressed to a large extent .

He said while the eastern ports  need some level of attention mostly as it affects the movement of cargoes and trade facilitation , there are severe challenges that must  be tackle and improve upon to promote international trade.

He lamented that the illegal checkpoints in the corridor disappears at night while they resurface at night which according to him , needs urgent intervention by the regulatory agencies of the government.

Similarly, Associate Director, Maritime Anti Corruption Network (MACN) Mr. Vivek Menon in his keynote address harped on effective collaboration by maritime agencies adding that attitude of dedication and enthusiasm has led to the many sector reforms and gains in the Industry.

Menon stated that “Among our various global involvements and partnerships, MACN’s experience in Nigeria during these ten years has been unique. Unique in terms of the level of commitment expressed by Maritime Agencies, the effectiveness of collaboration between stakeholders, and the uptake of procedural reforms across departments and cadres within Agencies.

“This attitude of dedication and enthusiasm has led to the many Sector Reforms and Gains in the Nigerian Maritime Industry has accomplished in the last decade. This includes: One: Publication of the Standard Operating Procedures and Nigerian Port Process Manual housed with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

He added that  MACN Nigeria team has created the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Toolkit that is accessible online to help stakeholders identify procedures and requirements that apply during vessel and cargo clearance.