Truckers Raise Alarm Over Hike In E-Call Up System , Finger Politicians As Masterminds Of Extortion

Experts in the haulage and logistics supply chain of the maritime sub sector on Monday , raised the alarm over alleged hike of the e-call up system introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and managed by Truck Transit Park (TTP) Limited.

 

The experts lamented that the official N10,000 charges collectible  by TTP Limited allegedly goes for N25,000 per truck adding that multiple taxation and extortions from the various associations may trigger further  hike in charges of container laden trucks  if not properly addressed.

 

According to them, gladiators in the political arena are allegedly engaging thugs along the port corridors to extort truckers ahead of the 2023 elections .

 

Chief Executive Officer, Nedu Logistics Solutions Limited, Mr. Kelvin Okechukwu, in a chat with DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA , lamented that despite paying huge amount on call up system to evacuate containers , multiple extortions from the thugs under the guise of representing various associations in haulage activities create more problems for genuine operators in the clearance of cargo from the ports.

 

He alleged that the monies collected for the call up in recent time has been extremely high for the truckers to pay, calling on the relevant authorities to review the charges saying the the current N25,000  rate will not go down well for genuine operators.

 

Okechukwu reiterated that the call up charges now attract about N25,000 officially and with a break down of the new collection,he alleged that “They collect the call up in three phases and each phase attract N10,750 while we the truckers are to pay twice with additional N5,ooo

 

Also, Okechukwu alleged that there are about twelve points manned by security agencies and the  touts thus demand and extort N1000 from truckers at very point along the port corridors.

 

Along the Apapa Oshodi corridor, he said every 500 meters attract a N1000 levy or ticket payable to the various touts claiming to be members of the haulage associations and security agencies ; calling on the government to find lasting solutions to end touting along the port corridors.

 

“Am telling you authoritatively that those touts on the roads are working for politicians. We have done so much to push them out but at the end of the day,after all said and done they are still there on the road because they have the political backing above.

 

“We go to police ,they will say there is nothing they can do, even when we go to the navy they will even give them protection.

 

He lamented that the Police, LASTMA and NPA personnel are not left out of frustrating the genuine haulage operators against the backdrop of the objective of the call up system.

 

While expressing frustration of the bottleneck and extortions on cargo movement  from the ports in Lagos, the logistics service provider maintained that the call up system was aimed to reduce the challenges faced by truckers and not to create setbacks for operators .

He urged the federal government to prioritize the port corridors construction to enable smooth vehicular movement of haulage trucks noting that the call up has potential to  movement of cargoes from the seaports.

On his part, a chieftain of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Arthur Igwilo  lamented that the multiple extortion has led to the hike in the cost of manufactured goods in the Nigerian markets.

 

Igwilo decried the humiliation and molestation of truck drivers and their assistant in  the hands of thugs , even as he appealed  to the government to put motion in place to eliminate the hiccups affecting trade facilitation.

 

He said maritime stakeholders are incapacitated in addressing the issue of extortion along the port corridors but government intervention would resolve most of the challenges faced by operators.

 

On e-call up system, the NAGAFF stalwart commended management of NPA for the initiative of the electronic process for vehicles accessing the seaports but stressed the need for close monitoring.

 

Attempts to contact officials of TTP Limited proved abortive as messages sent was not treated as at filing the report.

 

 

By Roland Ekama