Efforts by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to reign in activities of fraudsters, who have hijacked the traffic management processes on the ever busy Oshodi-Apapa expressway have yielded fruit as the NPA on Sunday disclosed that it busted a syndicate responsible for the traffic maladies by sabotaging the electronic call up system otherwise known as ‘Eto’ system.
The country’s ports management agency had in February 2021 launched an E-call up system at the Lagos ports as part of measures to address the perennial gridlock the ports became known for with truckers expected to book entrance into the ports through the Eto app.
However, the move has experienced hiccups as unscrupulous elements in the system continue to sabotage the modest initiatives.
In an electronic statement made available on Sunday, the NPA said “in a move geared towards frontally tackling the activities of unpatriotic elements sabotaging electronic truck traffic management (e- Call Up) system also known as “eto”, the Authority’s officials and security agents undertook a spot check of the MPS Pregate and made a mind boggling discovery of 249 fake vehicle plate numbers and 149 units of Minimum Safety Standard (MSS) stickers.”
“Further checks of the terminal led to a discovery of another 164 pieces of vehicle number plates and 133 pieces of MSS Stickers that are not fixed on any truck in readiness to be deployed for proxy booking.
“The fake number plates and MSS tickets were immediately confiscated and the terminal manager invited for questioning.”
According to the agency, “This development validates the Authority’s position on the existence of a deliberate and well orchestrated effort to undermine the electronic Call Up system which was initiated by the NPA to eliminate human interface in managing traffic in and out of the Ports as a measure of sustainably taming the menace of traffic gridlock hurting the national economy.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority is however resolute in consolidating the e-call up project and its other process automation initiatives in order to grow the maritime sector to its full potential.”
