- Minister Adegboyega Oyetola establishes committee to address Apapa gridlock and review e-call-up system, targeting abuse for more efficiency
- Committee to evaluate Standard Operating Procedures, with focus on abuse prevention, reflecting the government’s commitment to resolve Apapa challenges
In a move to alleviate the persistent Apapa gridlock and reinforce the e-call-up system, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has established a committee. The primary mandate of this committee is to address the gridlock issues on key access routes leading to the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos.
Additionally, the committee has been entrusted with the crucial task of reviewing the existing e-call-up system. Its objective is to devise effective measures that will eliminate the prevailing abuse of the system, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient process.
Recent reports from Daily Trust highlighted the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) recovery of numerous counterfeit vehicle plate numbers. These deceptive tactics were employed by truck drivers to gain unauthorized access to the Apapa port, thereby circumventing the e-call-up system.
A statement released by the minister’s spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, on Wednesday morning in Abuja, confirmed the establishment of the committee. According to Omipidan, the committee is set to evaluate the Standard Operating Procedures for Truck Traffic Management along the Lagos port corridor.
Scheduled to convene with critical stakeholders in Lagos on Thursday for the review, the minister emphasized, “Every potential abuse of the system by individuals should be thoroughly examined, and solutions must be provided to ensure an abuse-free operation.” The proactive approach taken by Minister Oyetola reflects the government’s commitment to resolving the long-standing challenges associated with the Apapa and Tin-Can gridlock.