Eromosele Abiodun
In a move geared towards frontally tackling the activities of unpatriotic elements sabotaging the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) electronic truck traffic management (e- CallUp) system also know as “eto”, the authority’s officials and security agents over the weekend in Lagos, undertook a spot check of the MPS Pregate and made a mind boggling discovery of 249 fake vehicle plate numbers and 149 units of Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) stickers.
It was learnt that gang has at various times forced truckers to patronize them and often block the Apapa-Shodi expressway to extort money from port users.
Further checks of the terminal, according to NPA officials, led to a discovery of another 164 pieces of vehicle number plates and 133 pieces of MSS Stickers that are not fixed on any truck in readiness to be deployed for proxy booking.
“The fake number plates and MSS tickets were immediately confiscated and the terminal manager invited for questioning. This development validates the Authority’s position on the existence of a deliberate and well orchestrated effort to undermine the electronic Call Up system which was initiated by the NPA to eliminate human interface in managing traffic in and out of the Ports as a measure of sustainably taming the menace of traffic gridlock hurting the national economy. The Nigerian Ports Authority is however resolute in consolidating the e-call up project and its other process automation initiatives in order to grow the maritime sector to its full potential, “the NPA said.
Speaking, the Managing Director of the NPA Mohammed Bello-Koko sad the NPA will continue to do what it can to rid the port elements who do not mean well for the country.
He said the NPA under his watch will make sure its mandate of the Minister of Marine, Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola to make Nigerian ports the best in Africa is achieved within the shortest possible period.
