Truck park proprietors operating in the Onne area of Rivers State have given their full backing to the Nigerian Ports Authority's (NPA) Electronic Call-Up System, a decisive move aimed at resolving the persistent traffic gridlock plaguing the Eastern Ports.
Stakeholders Rally Behind New System
For several months, investors in truck parks have endured significant financial losses. This hardship was a direct result of the delayed implementation of the electronic call-up policy, which created a vacuum filled by unregulated truck movements and extortion from non-state actors.
These unauthorized individuals reportedly charge truck drivers a fee of N1,000 per vehicle, incentivizing them to park indiscriminately along the roads instead of using the designated parks. The new system is now seen as the solution to restore sanity.
Preparations Finalized for Onne Corridor
Confirming the development, Mr. Godwin Ololuke, the Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC) for the Onne Chapter, announced that all arrangements for the electronic call-up system along the Onne Port corridor have been finalized.
Ololuke elaborated that a meeting was recently held between truck park owners, the system consultant, and the management of the NPA, facilitated by the Port Manager in Onne. The primary goal of this initiative is to regulate the movement of trucks within and around the port vicinity, thereby ensuring safety for all road users, including schoolchildren and local residents.
Drivers and Logistics Firms Voice Support
The sentiment on the ground is largely positive. A truck driver, Mr. Johnbull Igbikiowubo, described the e-call-up system as a welcome development that requires the cooperation of every stakeholder involved in port operations.
"The cooperation of all stakeholders is essential to ensure its success for the benefit of everyone involved and the nation’s economy," Igbikiowubo stated emphatically.
Echoing this view, an official from Waterhouses Marine and Logistics Limited, Olumide Ibitolu, provided context for the recent disorder. He clarified that the chaos was largely a temporary side effect of the ongoing process to register trucks under the new electronic system. Stakeholders are confident that this short-term disruption will lead to long-term efficiency and order.
