The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi described the enforcement of Registration and Implementation of minimum standards for all trucks doing business in the Western Ports as a great accomplishment in the history of NPA.
Habib Abdullahi referred to the exercise as one of the greatest moments in the history of the NPA as he flagged-off the campaign last week at the Apapa Port gate. He noted that it was the responsibility of the Authority to ensure that all vehicles that enter the ports meet the minimum standard requirements as well as guaranteeing the safety and security of the vehicles.
“This is one of the greatest moments in the history of the NPA to guarantee that the primary objective of the Authority in ensuring that the safety and security within the ports is maintained” Abdullahi said.
According to the MD, the issue of containers falling down which has led to the loss of lives and property had remained a major cause for worry for the NPA and the truck registration exercise would help to ensure that such incidents are curtailed as only roadworthy trucks were allowed to do business at the ports.
On the issue of the N10,000 annual NPA charges which has been frowned at by several Truck owners, Abdullahi stressed that the fee was per annum and he stated that the fee has been subsidized. He urged the aggrieved truck owners to divide the fee by 365 days to get the actual charge per day before complaining.
Meanwhile several truck drivers accused the Police and Touts of damaging their truck side mirrors and lights for refusing to give bribes along the port access roads.
Mr. Kunle Adejunmo, a member of the Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO), decried that NPA security officers extort monies from truck drivers at the port gate daily. He also lamented that Police officers and Touts were responsible for damaging most of the truck lights and side-mirrors when drivers refuse to give bribes.
Mr. Kunle who manages over 20 trucks asserted that NPA was playing politics with the registration exercise saying that his trucks were better than some of the trucks that have been registered by the Authority yet NPA refused to register his trucks.
Meanwhile the NPA MD denied being aware of any extortion by NPA officers. “Nobody has reported any extortion to me. I only read about it in the newspapers and other media. If there is any extortion, get the person’s name which on his uniform and report to me” Abdullahi said.
However, the NPA has the support of Corporate Truck Fleet Owners Association (CTFOA) who’s President, Mrs. Folake Soji-George told the press that her association and its members were in sync with the NPA in its minimum standard registration.
Mrs. Soji-George pleaded with other truck owners to swiftly key into the truck registration exercise for the NPA.
“NPA isn’t asking for too much. Trucks should be presentable, they should have hooks, good lighting systems, mirrors, extra-tyres and the brake system should be in good working condition. I think this is reasonable enough” she said.
Earlier in his speech, the General Manager Western Ports, Chief M.k Ajayi revealed that over 2,000 trucks had been registered by the NPA. He noted that the major objectives of the registration initiative include creating an opportunity for NPA t collect data for traffic/infrastructure planning purpose and facilitating truck identification through the truck data base.
Other benefits highlighted by Chief Ajayi include; to serve as security measure to prevent any threat or security breach to the port in compliance with the ISPS code and to serve as a platform to ensure minimum standards for truck entering the port in compliance with international safety standards.
By Kenneth Jukpor
