The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has received the approval of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), to seek the transaction adviser to handle the proposed Lokoja and Obollo-Afor truck transit park projects.
Truck Transit Park (TTP) projects, are promoted by the NSC and would be developed on a Public Private Partnership, in line with the Federal Government’s policy of addressing infrastructure deficits in the country.
The parks were aimed at providing short-term resting places for truck drivers on long distance travels and to reduce loss to life and cargo in transit, caused by accidents arising from fatigue.
Research has it that the NSC plans to build the truck parks in locations such as Lokoja, Kogi State; Obollo-Afor, Enugu State; Jebba, Kwara State; Ore, Ondo State; Ogere, Ogun State; Porto Novo Creek, Lagos state; Onitsha, Anambra State; Mararaban Jos and Kaduna State.
TTP is also a public rest area located off the road, designed to provide temporary rest location for truck drivers. It is primarily intended for short-term breaks and also long-term parking services where truck drivers can get fuel, food, restrooms, shower and basic supplies like oil and spare parts, as well as servicing and repairs of haulage vehicles.
In an interview with BusinessDay , Hassan Bello, executive secretary of the NSC, assured that the council is still moving on with the TTP project in order to promote safety of cargoes and haulage vehicles while in transit, adding that this would help reduce pilferage and theft of cargoes.
“There was a focus lab on which we had extreme interest on the Truck Transit Park. Our problem was that we had to handover the parks to investors free from any encumbrances. Land issue has been our problem but fortunately in Enugu, Obollo-Afor land has been resolved,” Bello said.
According to him, the state government is yet to pay the compensation for the land for the transit park project in Lokoja.
“We have just received a letter of approval from the ICRC that we can go ahead and advertise for the request for qualification (RFQ) because we have appointed a transaction adviser. Very soon, we will do so,” Bello said.
He further said: “The existence of parks will afford cargo owners the means to monitor the movement of cargoes through a cargo tracking system to be located in respective TTPs, and to help in improving trade with landlocked neighbouring countries.
The parks are expected to have facilities such as gas stations, hotels and motels, restaurants, mechanic workshops, fire stations, police posts and automated cargo tracking systems.
ICRC is an agency of the Federal Government, responsible for the development and implementation of PPP framework for the provision of infrastructure services, thus the importance of the approval given to the council.
Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie
