Electronic Call-Up: AMARTO Threatens Total Withdrawal of Services Against NPA, LASTMA
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) has threatened a total withdrawal of service from Nigerian ports in order to protest irregularities in the implementation of Truck Electronic Call-Up System for trucks being cordinated by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
Chairman of AMARTO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi told DAILY TREND NEWS that the association has instructed all truck drivers to start placing green leaves on their trucks from tomorrow 22nd day of April 2021 till further notice.
The AMARTO Chairman said that the electronic call-up system otherwise known as ETO is not working well.
He alleged that trucks without ETO tickets are gaining entrance into the ports easier and faster especially at night, than those with genuine ETO tickets.
“However, am privileged to meet with certain Official and I was made to understand that we should expect some restructuring soonest”
“Though, I don’t know how soon is the soon. Nevertheless, the earlier the concerned authorities do the needful, the better for them”
Ogungbemi demanded that the Lagos State Government implementation team; LASTMA and Committee on Abandoned, should be called to order and to desist from indiscriminate arresting, towing, impoundment and slamming of outrageous, unreceipted bills as ransom for the release of trucks.
Other demands of the association include “Proper regulation / programing of the movement of all the trucks in a way by which every truck drivers would know when it is his turn to hit the road”
“Centralization / transparency in the release of all trucks in a way by which all traffic controllers, truck Owners, terminal operators, agents etc would have the details of the trucks that are authorized / programed to either come to transit park or Ports”
“Immediate intervention for the unconditional release of all the trucks that are with valid ETO tickets under LASTMA/ABANDON DETENTION”
“Investigate to know the owner of those towing trucks that have become a conduits pipes for syphoning truckers in the name of working for government and using government machineries”
Chief Ogungbemi stated that while waiting for the immediate intervention of the relevant authorities such as the NPA, being the Technical Regulator of the Ports and Nigerian Shippers Council as the Economic Regulator of the Ports, the truckers would continue to use the leaves on their trucks as a strike warning.
In a message to all truck drivers at the Lagos ports, AMARTO Chairman said “As a sign and warning towards the total withdrawal of services against all the anomalies perpetrated against truckers by LASTMA, ABANDON, you are hereby instructed to start placing green leaves on your trucks from tomorrow being the 22nd day of April 2021 till further notice”
“Enough of making Truckers SCAPEGOATS for shortcoming of others. Just remain calm while waiting for authority intervention”
