*Lack of synergy among Agencies identified as a major hurdle

*Are All Trucks equal or some trucks more equal than others?

Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman. MD NPA

The Nigerian Ports Authority is again in motion, pushing, pulling and tugging to implement its Electronic Call Up System, code named ETO, as a possible solution to the obstinate traffic gridlock in Apapa and it environ with the hope of restoring some semblance of sanity within the Apapa port vicinity.

It is not the first time NPA is going digital in its operations. The ineffectiveness of previous similar efforts casts a thick, huge shadow of doubt on ETO and it workability.

How well has previous efforts at automation met or yielded desired objectives?

Resolving the Apapa traffic conundrum is a national challenge for which a Presidential Committee was set up.  The Presidential Task Force on Decongestion of Lagos Ports Access Roads was headed by Comrade Kayode Opeifa.

Opeifa and his members tried their best but controversies trailed their later day efforts despite claims by Opeifa that all traffic issues within and around Apapa were comprehensively resolved by his committee.

Opeifa had management staff of NPA in his committee. Notwithstanding , the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, not convinced by Opeifa and his team, had to establish a parallel traffic management coalition known as Traffic Task Team, TTT.

The vote of no confidence passed on Opeifa by Hadiza was a resounding one. It was no surprise therefore when the Presidency disbanded the Task Force shortly after the fiasco.

Opeifa and the TTT have faded into oblivion as we focus on ETO.

Were the accusations of extortion, diversion, evasion made against the Opeifa led Traffic Task Force looked into and resolved? What is the guarantee that such infractions will not mar a successful implementation of this new Call Up System?

Those who get away with offenses/crimes are emboldened to get more vicious.

The Apapa traffic gridlock is not caused by NPA. It is a direct result of the assertion that he who fails to plan plans to fail. All Federal Agencies, groups and associations in Nigeria’s Maritime Industry are culpable in the Apapa traffic menace.

Failing to stand up, speak up nor act is their collective guilt.

They have so feasted on the elephant that they forgot that maggots and ants will descend on them if they fail to clear and clean the slaughter slab.

Could ETO be the solution?

In 2014, Habib Abdullahi, then Managing Director of NPA launched the Electronic Ship Entry Notice (E-SEN) and the Ship Entry Notice (SEN) at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

While launching the e-SEN, Mallam Habib Abdullahi said he was glad that the platform, coming shortly after the e-payment platform similarly launched in 2014, NPA was finally setting the agenda, towards becoming the continental leading port in Africa. Has this been achieved?

These efforts at automation were lauded by stakeholders and port users but whether the ports are better off today in terms of attractiveness, competiveness and friendliness than they were six years ago are issues of academic debates.

The Issues

How would ETO be operated? Who are the operators? Is there a command and control centre? Who are those that will man it? How incorruptible are they? Would there be no calls from above to counter them?

What are the quality/conditions of the trucks to be called up? Could they move from park to port without breaking down?

Could the hounds of security operatives be removed from the roads within the port environment?

Would ETO run on electricity, generators or solar/hydro power?

How would the trucks be called up? Would mobile phones be used between operators of ETO and truck drivers or truck owners?

Could all trucks be equal or would the trucks of oga have right of way?

Has the various truck owners/associations been briefed, enlightened and brought on board?

Just like the Secured Anchorage Area deal, is somebody somewhere not nursing a counter traffic money spinning option that could be approved tomorrow?

Could ETO work where Single Window failed?

Hassan Bello, ES/CEO Nigerian Shippers Council

According to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, Nigeria needs the Single Window platform “To fulfil trade-related issues – be it import or export, or cargo on transit. This single window issue is all about facilitating trade. When we talk about trade facilitation, what comes to mind is simplifying, standardizing and harmonizing processes and procedures. We have to do this to ensure we eradicate all manual processes which bring about corruption in the ports”

On her part, Hadiza contends that “Some of the delays affecting our ports have been eliminated by NPA and we are also collaborating with other agencies like Customs to introduce other electronic system of doing things”.

While various reasons have been advanced for the failure of the 24hr port operations via a Presidential Order, Hadiza insists that “We have 24-hour port operation as directed. All agencies of government are required to deploy personnel to have 24-hour port operation. We deployed our personnel but the other legs were absent. And of course, we cannot sanction other agencies of government,” she declared.

Could NPA succeed in isolation?

The needed synergy, collaboration, sync and unity of purpose is lacking among government agencies in the maritime industry.

These, in my view are what makes the e-call up system a possibility made impossible by the Realities on ground-compounded by indication of interest by Senators to be involved in cargo examination!

Until these are resolved, Nigerian Ports will continue to yield more revenue to private vaults that federal coffers.