The
Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) on Monday urged the Federal Government to accelerate action in acquiring a truck marshaling yard to serve trucks operating at the ports in Lagos.
Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) on Monday urged the Federal Government to accelerate action in acquiring a truck marshaling yard to serve trucks operating at the ports in Lagos.
National Chairman of the association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, made the plea in an interview in Lagos.
He said that the proposed plan by government to acquire a 51-hectare land at Mie 2, Lagos would be strategic to serve trucks operating in Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
“We all know that truck must come from somewhere; there must be a place that will serve either as a marshaling yard or a truck terminal.
“Arrangements and discussion is also ongoing that government acquires the 51 hectares at Mile 2, and Mile 2 is a very strategic place to both Apapa port and Tin-can port.
“So, if that place can be acquired and built up, I believe the place is big enough to accommodate all the trucks that are operating; both Apapa and Tin-can.
“It is then there can be sanity and orderliness in the operations of the trucks in the port system.”
Ogungbemi said that besides that proposal, the association was also speaking with management of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) to introduce a truck call-up system at the ports.
He said when effective, trucks would only come to the port when booked and ready to be attended to by the terminal where they would load.
He said the arrangement would ensure that truck did not just come to queue on the road and waiting for days without entering the port.
