BEVERLY HILLS, March 10, (THEWILL) – Suspected fraudsters have infiltrated the newly inaugurated electronic call-up system introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to control unnecessary flooding of the ports access roads by articulated vehicles.
In a tweet posted on the official Twitter handle of the NPA, on Wednesday, the authority explained that some truckers were caught with counterfeit e-call-up slips, trying to beat security officials stationed along the ports corridor to enforce the new electronic port haulage regime.
According to the NPA, “We are currently investigating some cases where truck drivers were caught with counterfeit e-call up slips in order to by-pass security and officials saddled with the responsibility, but we are on top of the situation. We will beat them to their game.
“This was the major factor responsible for the initial confusion on the major road within the first week of commencement of the e-call up system. We are determined to checkmate the illicit act.”
The NPA had on February 27, launched the electronic call-up app ‘Eto,’ stating that trucks not registered on ‘Eto’ will not have access to the ports.
As part of the operation of the app, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, had also said that the authority, working in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, had licensed seven truck parks, where vehicles could be stationed and invited into the ports when their cargoes were ready.
“I have always had the idea that removing human intervention in calling up trucks into the ports is key to solving the truck congestion problem. This process will be transparent and on a first-come, first-served basis. I am confident that this step, combined with improved rail access in the ports and the use of barges to move cargo will solve this problem,” Hadiza Bala Usman had explained.
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