Following the recent resurfacing of traffic congestion along the Lagos Port Corridor, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd (TTP) has proposed the deployment of electronic tags to improve the performance of the electronic call-up system at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports.
According to the firm, affixing E-tags to vehicle windshields will offer a seamless and automated approach to access control while E-tag readers at entry and exit gates integrate with the access barrier system to improve security and access control.
Integrating E-tags with the ètò solution, the company said, will streamline the truck scheduling process, leading to benefits such as fast cargo evacuation, reduced human interaction, improved security, and cost-effectiveness.
Speaking on the importance of the technology solutions to enhancing the performance of the Eto call-up system, Jama Onwubuariri, managing director/co-founder of TTP, said there is an urgent need for the implementation of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)/E-tags and the E-Call-up Interchange Transaction Number (EITN) to streamline truck movements within Lagos ports.
According to him, RFID/E-tag and EITN are pivotal to addressing the challenges faced in the Lagos ports.
He said TTP is committed to providing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce congestion, and create a seamless experience for stakeholders in the maritime sector.
“This solution, if implemented, will ensure high volumes of legitimate bookings, reduce illegitimate traffic, and enhance transaction phase correlation. It will provide better coordination of truck movements within ports, prevent crisscrossing between terminals, and support integrated security check activities,” he said.
During a recent Stakeholders Engagement Forum held at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Headquarters recently, aimed at assessing the efficiency of the electronic call-up system amid the resurgence of traffic gridlock along the Apapa Port corridor, truckers also made a case for the deployment of e-tags.
Stakeholders also raised concerns over wet cargo operations, pointing out the need for an electronic call-up system for tanker operations to alleviate congestion.
Other key challenges highlighted by stakeholders during the forum include the drop in terminal efficiency, which has contributed significantly to the persistent gridlock at port corridors and the status of information technology infrastructural installations across park facilities, with some parks allegedly operating without fulfilling standard requirements.
