Stakeholders and licensed customs agents operating at the Eastern Ports have rejected the planned adoption of the E-call up system at the Eastern Ports.
The group made their position known at a stakeholders meeting on Thursday, in Port Harcourt
Our correspondent learnt that E-call up system also known as the Eto ticket is an innovation by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
The innovation was designed to direct truck movement and check port congestion at the Lagos Ports of Tin Can and Apapa.
However, worried by plans to replicate the model at Eastern Ports comprising Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, the group said that eastern ports lacked the necessary infrastructure for the system’s implimentation.
They however, urged the federal government to tackle infrastructure decay in the region by fastracking the completion of the East-West Road.
The stakeholders urged the federal government to prioritize policies capable of straightening the Onne oil and gas free zone to boost the nation’s economy.
Also, they expressed concerns over rampant racketeering and disorder currently ongoing at the Lagos Ports on account of the E-call up system implimentation.
According to them, the Eto ticket with an official cost of N20,750 sometimes sells for as much as N400,000 at the black market with freight forwarders readily patronizing regardless of cost deferentials.
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The group also noted that while the system was initially introduced to support transparency and aid port decongestion, the reverse is currently the case.
“E-call up system has been mared by corruption and disorder at the Lagos Ports.
“The Lagos Ports currently struggles with various flaws including persistent congestion due to lack of coordination.
“Truckers now incur extra time and fees in loading bays.
“Generally, the E-call up system had shown no appreciable value addition to ports operation as it lacked clarity on cargo movement,” the group maintained
They however, commended the Eastern Ports operational model which they said had engendered efficiency and promoted ease of doing business.
