An electronic call-up system to sanitise the movement of trucks and tankers operating in the Lagos ports will take off soon, its initiators said on Monday.
Chief Chris Orode, Chairman of FT Logistics Global Services Ltd., a platform for electronic call-up solution for trucks and tankers made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Orode said the system, developed with the peculiarities of doing logistics business in Nigeria, would eliminate clogging of trucks in and around the ports and increase efficiency in port activities.
When operational, it will resolve the perennial gridlock problem emanating from trucks and tankers that obstruct the roads leading into Apapa and spill over to adjoining roads in the metropolis, he said.
He noted the plan would establish the building of a truck park and a holding bay for empty containers at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Expressway, Lagos.
“This electronic call-up system is well researched to bring lasting solutions to the problem of trucks/tankers clogging around ports access roads.
“With this system fully operational, there will be real time benefits as only authorised trucks or tankers will be allowed access into the ports and loading bays.
“The system will also assist security agencies to easily track erring vehicles because it is working with an array of electronic devices, running 99.9 per cent uptime online with world ICT standards,’’ Orode said.
The logistics provider said the project was planned to interface, work real time and seamlessly on a single portal with critical stakeholders to achieve its goal.
He said the stakeholders include the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Port Terminals, Shipping Lines, trucking associations, freight forwarders, Lagos State Government and relevant petroleum marketing associations.
Orode added that the system would enhance transparency just as it would save cost in the logistics process and help in trade facilitation.
“This initiative will help to reduce the cost of doing business in the ports, thereby attracting more imports/exports.
“The financial institutions and investors will be encouraged to invest in re-fleeting the trucks because the wear and tear on them will reduce significantly.
“With the introduction of a tracking device on the trucks, the freight forwarders will be able to monitor trucks conveying containers and general cargoes,’’ he assured.
Orode said the work strategy would have all trucks/tankers with approved minimum standards registered and their data integrated unto the platforms, including the payment managers.
He said the payment platform include Interswitch, Pay-Direct, e transact, Payment Gateway, Master and Visa Cards reports.
He added that the technology and equipment partner for the vehicle access control management system is Interswitch Nigeria Ltd., and Skidadata of Austria.
NAN reports that lack of a call-up or access control system for trucks operating in the ports has left the trucks to perpetually be on the ports’ access roads.
The trucks have preferred to stay close to the ports with the hope of scouting for quick jobs, thereby causing obstruction to other motorists as they line the roads for days.
Previous efforts to keep the indiscriminately parked trucks off the roads have failed and often, led to face-offs with government.
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