Lagos: The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has reiterated its support for the electronic call-up automation system introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to tackle gridlock on the Apapa and Tin-Can port access roads. The Secretary-General of the association, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Bala, made the call after a peaceful rally in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sani-Bala commended the NPA for the initiative that had brought sanity to the port access roads. He noted that the manual call-up system was obsolete and emphasized the need to embrace the reality of sustainable, technology-driven port logistics. Sani-Bala described the electronic call-up system as a transformative and significant achievement in Nigeria’s maritime logistics, noting its role in eliminating gridlock and facilitating the seamless evacuation of import and export cargoes.
Sani-Bala expressed gratitude to the management of NPA and the Lagos State Government for their roles in implementing and enforcing compliance with the system’s Standard Operating Procedures. He highlighted that the electronic call-up system had introduced automation, transparency, and efficiency in port access and truck scheduling, which resolved the longstanding chaos and gridlock on the Apapa and Tin Can Island logistics corridors. The system allows truckers to book port access slots remotely and affordably, significantly reducing the cost and uncertainty associated with the manual system.
Further, Sani-Bala stated that the environment around the port corridors had improved, with a more fluid traffic flow and rising property values. The electronic call-up system had restored community life in Apapa, which was once a ghost town due to gridlock. He criticized the recent campaign against the call-up system, attributing it to individuals who previously benefited from the discredited manual system. Sani-Bala urged the trucking community to remain vigilant and resist attempts to undermine the progress achieved with the call-up automation.
