NPA To Deregister Trucks For Illegal Container Stripping
The Nigerian Ports Authority has threatened to deregister from the electronic call-up system platform any truck that is involved in the illegal stripping of containers along the port access road.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, in a statement on Saturday night, gave the warning when he paid an unscheduled visit to Tincan Island Port.
Illegal container stripping also known as devanning is the unloading or unpacking of cargo from a container in an unapproved place.
Speaking further, Bello-Koko, stressed that the authority will deal decisively with perpetrators of the unwholesome practice.
He also added that stripping yards that violate the operational rules will face temporal shutdowns for first-time offenders, “And there is a possibility of non-renewal of land leases for recalcitrant offenders,” he added.
Bello-Koko noted that these stringent measures are geared towards maintaining orderliness and safety within the port environment.
The NPA boss during the visit, also inspected designated container stripping yards and the port access roads to ensure trucks are not loitering the axis.
During the visit, Bello-Koko also announced that the NPA has rolled out Standard Operating Procedures for barge operators.
He maintained that the SOP will serve as a guideline to all operators.
“Stripping constitutes a menace when undertaken outside designated yards, as it provides a platform for trucks loitering around the ports access roads which results in traffic disruptions and attendant chaos,” Bello Koko, stated.
He said the NPA will intensify its vigilance and monitoring to nip the negative trend in the bud.
Addressing the scarcity in some of the stripping yards, Bello-Koko, acknowledged the impact of global economic upheavals on cargo flow.
He, however, reiterated that a low business downturn cannot be a justification for illegality.
He revealed that proposals for well-equipped stripping yards, referred to as devanning yards are receiving accelerated attention, signaling a shift from illegal roadside stripping.
