Jama Onwubuariri, MD of the TTP.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The premises of the Trucks Transit Parks Limited at the Lilypond truck park at Ijora, Lagos was a beehive of activities this morning as the Nigerian Ports Authority appointed agent on traffic control matters and the developer of the ETO (A Yoruba word meaning ‘to schedule’) software application celebrates its one year of operation.
From the left are Bolaji Akerele of the TTP, Ayo Durowaiye of the NPA, Jama Onwubuariri of the TTP, Shola Giwa SSA to the governor on CBD and others.
The managing director of the company , Mr. Jama Onwubuariri who gave the opening speech on the occassion said that they have recorded a lot of support as well as challenges over the past year. He noted that the partnership with the NPA has brought a lot positive changes in the traffic outlay within and around the Ports corridors, but he hopes that the next one year will bring about deeper penetration with the aid of modern technology.
The company said that about 83, 581 trucks are registered under the Port entry and exit register and that the cargo throughput efficiency has clearly been enhanced.
Mr. Onwubuariri said that the ETO application has succeeded in bringing sanity on the ports access roads by controlling truck movement as well as reducing the spate of extortions along the corridors.
From the left, Jama Onwubuariri of the TTP and Emmanuel Nnorom of the NPA Bolaji Akerele of the TTP during the familiarisation tour of the Lilypond facility.
Part of the event of the day was the taking of the audience through the company’s milestone via a video exhibition of their events of the past year. It was recorded that about 9,563 users have registered on the platform, that they have processed 592,780 trucks as well as the 83,581 of such trucks registered on the platform with 85 approved facilities, these were all detailed by Mr. Richard Nnorom.
Mr. Ayo Durowaiye of the Nigerian Ports Authority said that the partnership has witnessed a lot of progress, but that a lot more steps need to be taken for them all to reach their desired destination. He indicated that there are issues bothering on public complaints which they are trying to sort out and also said that the NPA is not aware of the over twenty thousand naira (#20,000.00) being charged on the ETO application. He said that their major concern has been the conveyance of cargo into and out of the ports, but that the perennial traffic lock jam gave them the impetus to go into the partnership with the TTP to try and clear the roads.
Mr. Shola Giwa, the Senior Special Adviser on the Central Business District to the Lagos State Government in his contribution said that the collaboration between the NPA, the TTP and the Lagos State Government came about because of the promise made by the governor to the people of Apapa and environs that they shall soon start enjoying unfettered access to their homes and places of work. He noted that though they have so far done some level of wonderful jobs, but that they still have a lot more work to do, he implored everyone to cooperate to make the access roads more acceessible to all road users.
At the question and answers session, the Managing director of the TTP, Mr. Onwubuariri explained that the ETO system only charges the sum of ten thousand naira (#10,000.00) only with a VAT of seven hundred and fifty naira bringing the total charge to ten thousand seven hundred and fifty naira (#10,750.00) only. He clarified that you only pay more when you do not have your own transit park as theirs is pre-gate park and the extra cost is meant to settle the other registered park owners whose park you would use to hold your truck before moving to the pre-gate park and finally to the Ports. He also said that some people claim to have a better designed application that can rival the ETO application, but that the TTP welcomes any innovation that would make life easier for all.
The trucks transit parks limited also used the opportunity to launch a newly designed logo as well as a new product called the Tafiyah for the company.
For advert placement and more information, please call us on 08027590185, 08035721540 or email us at greatalternativenigltd@gmail.com
