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A surveillance team has been constituted by personnel of the Safety department of Western Ports of the Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] in Lagos as they renew efforts to rid the Lagos ports of rickety substandard trucks.
The surveillance team has begun physical inspection of trucks at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) to ensure that only trucks which comply with stipulated safety standards are allowed entrance into the ports within the Lagos area.
The team leader, Engineer David Adeola said they had started the operations and the team has started accomplishing positive results as a number of trucks have been prevented from entering the LPC due to their poor road worthiness since the operations began.
He expressed optimism that if the minimum standards of road worthiness are enforced on all trucks admitted for operations in the ports and the terminal operators adhering strictly to it, it will eventually eliminate cases of mishap within and outside the ports due to faulty and substandard trucks.
He explained that the minimum standard of road worthiness for trucks entering the port stipulates specifications expected of a truck covering amongst others the truck head, body, braking system, engine, battery, trafficators, warning devices, twist locks and other fittings.
Chief Remi Ogungbe, Chairman of the Association of Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO) has swiftly assured that his association was in full support of the surveillance duties of the Safety department of NPA to ensure the safety of other road users in the port.
Chief Ogungbemi stressed that the enforcement of the safety standards is necessary for all trucks in the nation’s seaports and assured that AMATO was already educating its members on the benefits of acquiring and having standard trucks for their effective operation.
Mr. Sam Asamagie, AGM Security (Western Ports) added that the department has always supported the Safety department whenever they embark on the truck surveillance duties and revealed that some truck owners are complying strictly to the rules.
The members of the surveillance team were drawn from the Western Ports Headquarters, Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC).
