Agents, TTP disagree on Eto Callup System shutdown

We lose billions to Eto shutdown – Agents

Not true, Eto system ever functioning – TTP

Contrary to the position of Trucks Transit Parks (TTP) that Eto Callup System is not down and that truck movement into and out of Apapa port is seamless,  port users, including ship agents and customs agents, have decried the mounting demurrage running into billions of Naira which they incur on a daily basis owing to the epileptic performance of the Electronic Callup system (ETO).

A statement this morning signed by Managing Director of TTP,  Jama Onwubuariri, debunked widespread claims that the Eto Callup system had shut down and truck drivers could not go into the port to pick cargo.

He said it was not true, that, in fact, truck movement and loading were ongoing effortlessly in the port.He notes: “Since its inception, the Eto call up system has operated seamlessly and uninterrupted, demonstrating remarkable uptime and reliability, outperforming even global standards.

“The ETO system is reputed to have successfully simplified, facilitated easy entry and exit of trucks from Nigerian ports thus eliminating significantly the debilitating traffic gridlocks around Apapa ports and adjoining neighbourhoods.”

But a well known shipping agent (he pleaded for anonymity) who berths and handles bulk cargo vessels regularly at Apapa port, Lagos, told PortNews today, Monday 4th November, that his vessel had over stayed and was paying heavy rent due to no dereliction on his own side but failure of ETO electronic system.

“The ETO system is just comatose.  It is down and out and the truckists are stranded. As we speak,  this afternoon, Monday 4th of November 2024, ETO Callup System  is down and truck drivers and their trucks have decided to lay off. What this mean for me is huge demurrage.  We can’t continue like this,” he said in frustration.

Speaking on the same development,  Mr ldowu Owuade, a licensed customs agent and Public Relations Officer of Tin Can ANLCA, noted that, beyond the epileptic ETO server, Nigerian Ports Authority staff still constitute an encumbrance to free flow of truck traffic into Apapa port.

“If ETO releases a truck driver to go into the port to pick his container and the all powerful NPA staff blockade the road and stop the truck from moving, what does that portend? It is delay, demurrage,  bad business, losses on all fronts. The ship agent loses, the clearing agent loses,  the importer loses, and the Nigerian economy loses.  The only person who gains is the terminal operator, and maybe,  the truck owners because they usually resort to increasing their charges considerably to cover the time lost, and this amounts to hundreds of millions of Naira on a daily basis and billions monthly. Haba! This is unfortunate and we call on ETO and NPA management to address this problem as quickly as they can,” noted Owuade.

The NPA management has this onerous task to surmount if it’s really desirous and sincere of displacing the port of Abidjan as the Load Centre of maritime  Western Africa region.