Shippers Council deploys Truck Transit Park to end Apapa gridlock

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has said it will deploy the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) project with Electronic Call Up System (ECUPS) to end the endemic traffic gridlock which has locked down Lagos in the last few weeks.
Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr.
Hassan Bello made this known at the Second Quarter (Q2) Public Private Partnership Unit Consultative Forum (3PUCF) Meeting in Abuja recently said the feasibility studies have been conducted for the establishment of the Truck Transit Parks in Porto Novo Creek in Lagos State and other locations across the country.
The ES, who was represented by Mr.
Ekpeyon Eke, noted that when completed, the facility in Lagos will not only decongest Apapa but also provide short-term resting place for truck drivers waiting to load cargo.
Other locations for the proposed Parks include: Lokoja (Kogi State); Obollo-Afor (Enugu State); Jebba (Kwara State); Ore (Ondo State); Ogere (Ogun State); Onitsha (Anambra State) and Mararaban Jos (Kaduna State).
According to the NSC boss, when completion, the Park will have provisions 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.
The initiative is expected to be delivered through Public Private Partnership (PPP) without putting a strain on government finances.
The Executive Secretary said Nigeria’s infrastructure needs were critical, emphasizing that the Public Private Partnership model of projects delivery was the way to go.
He said since the creation of the PPP unit at the Nigerian Shippers Council in 2015, many projects have been initiated which are at various stages of completion.
He explained that the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, is an initiative of the Nigerian Shippers Council, with the combined effort of ICNL Ltd and the Kaduna State Government and guided through the PPP process by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The Truck Transit Parks, a novel initiative of the Nigerian Shippers Council will have the following facilities: Gas Station, Hotel and Motel, Restaurants, Mechanic Workshop, Fire Station, Police Post, Automated Cargo Tracking System.