N150,000 NPA Ticket Racketeering: TTP Dissociates Self from Corruption at Lagos Ports

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Trucks Transit Parks Ltd (TTP), the operator of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) electronic call-up system, known as ETO, has dissociated itself from a report published by DAILY TREND in which a freight forwarder, Femi Olabanji alleged that the ETO Call-Up tickets for trucks was being sold for N150,000.

In a press statement by Irabor Akonoman, Head of Operations for TTP on Tuesday, he said that there was never a time that the Call-Up tickets were sold for N150,000 by the Agency.

“We would like to categorically state that at no point has an eto ticket been sold for the reported amount of N150,000. The approved and standard pricing structure is transparent and fixed.

“Costs range from N10,750 and not exceeding 21,500 (VAT inclusive). This price depends on the parks or pregates that these trucks are electronically scheduled to go through before they are batched and released to progress to the port

“The primary issue with irregularities arises from the fact that truckers, fail to affix their plate numbers on their vehicles. Consequently, this allows for the potential swapping of plate numbers between trucks, leading to resale of tickets at inflated prices.

“It is important to emphasize that these practices are not endorsed or facilitated by Trucks Transit Parks Ltd or the eto system.

“The escalated costs reported are a result of individual truckers engaging in fraudulent activities, reselling their own tickets at prices significantly above the standard rates.

“This is against the laid down standard operating procedure put in place by the Nigerian Ports Authority for the electronic callup system for Apapa and Tincan ports. This practice is detrimental to the industry and the interest of truckers in general.

“TTP condemns such behaviour and actively discourages any involvement in ticket racketeering. Truckers found to have engaged in this practice are blacklisted with the approval of NPA.

“We would like to draw attention of the public to the fact that the complainants themselves may play a role in perpetuating these illicit activities.

“While they possess the knowledge and ability to book eto tickets through the standard procedures, some opt to circumvent the process by not using their tickets but reselling them to those in a hurry to access the port.

“This involves purchasing tickets, often at exorbitant prices from individuals who have already processed theirs, and for some reason become unable to carry out their business at the port.

“With the approval of the regulator, NPA, a consequence management system has been implemented to immediately disable the truck or user account of any transporter or agents found to have committed this infraction or any other ones that contravenes the SOP and sabotages the success of the electronic callup system.

“From inception, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd is committed to addressing emerging challenges to the implementation of the Callup system and is actively collaborating with relevant authorities.

“We are in the process of implementing advanced technologies such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and other measures, including the mandatory display of permanent plate numbers on trucks.

“These initiatives aim to prevent the swapping of plate numbers and, subsequently, discourage ticket racketeering.

“We appreciate the concerns raised by the media and the public, and we want to assure all stakeholders that we are taking decisive steps to enhance the integrity of the eto system. Our commitment to transparency and fairness remains unwavering, and we will continue working diligently to eradicate any malpractices within our purview.

Femi Olabanji, Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Lilypond Export Chapter had alleged that the Call-Up system for trucks which was initially issued for N27,000 is now being hoarded and made available to very few cabals who are now reselling it for N150,000.

According to him, the corruption ensued recently after the NPA temporarily suspended the release of flatbed trucks from Satellite truck parks to Pre-gate from entering various terminals inside the Lagos Port Complex.

Speaking with our correspondent on the attendant challenges currently being experienced as a result of the decision by NPA, Olabanji lamented that the ongoing corruption has led to an increase in haulage prices.

According to him, trucking of cargoes from the port has increased from N400,000 to N800,000 and as much as N1.2million.