Shippers Council, FRSC provides template for port truckers

As Gov. Ganduje, Amaechi, Bello commissions Dala IDP

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set standards for truck owners and drivers for effective service delivery anchored on standard compliance.

Oyeyemi and Bello greeting upon arrival of the corp marshal

This is even as the Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello said the MoU is intended to generate a database on trucks, training, VTA implementation, public education, enlightenment and others. He further noted that the meeting was to deliberate on the way forward toward providing solutions to transport infrastructure deficit and other operational challenges in the cargo logistics value chain.

According to the NSC helmsman, the corps marshal’s support of the council’s projects and activities had accelerated the achievements of major milestones in the development of critical infrastructure for trade facilitation.

He said to facilitate the development of critical transport infrastructure which supports trade and standards enforcement, the council was promoting two major transport infrastructures, namely Inland Dry Ports and VTA project.

According to him, the development of the Truck Transit Park, now VTA, to provide convenient rest facilities for truckers as conceptualized by the shippers’ council, is aimed at furthering safety of trukers and goods; including other category of road users.

He said, “NSC also has the mandate to ensure efficient and effective service delivery is enforced across the transport chain. Our partnership between the NSC and the FRSC has recorded reasonable landmarks, especially in traffic management and safety of cargo in transit.”

Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje, Executive Governor, Kano State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Honorable Minister of Transportation and Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation

In his address, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, hinted of government intention to scrap trucks that are above 30 years of age from operating on Nigerian roads.

According to him, over 90 per cent of trucks operating on Nigerian roads are over 30 years and there is need to set standards and ensure compliance through regular renewal of acceptable standards and rules.

Oyeyemi noted that most trucks plying the roads lack safety measures like lighting, reflectors and other parts; and said there has to be improvement on maintenance and standardization. The Corps Marshal said while on his way to the Shippers’ Council corporate headquarters, he passed through the Third Mainland Bridge Lagos and saw trucks lining up on the bridge going toward Apapa; adding that the situation calls for worry.

“Also, there is decay in the vehicle inspection system in the country, most of the trucks are not road worthy and this poses a serious threat to road users. When these trucks break down, the goods will not get to its destination as scheduled and this affects the end users,” he said.

Speaking on the proposed Vehicle Transit Area (VTA) project, Oyeyemi said more stakeholders’ engagement is required to produce results, noting that enforcement alone cannot get the desired result.

Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Inland Transport Service Department, NSC, Nanle noted that the VTA project would need a public-private partnership to thrive.

in a related development, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, last week were at the Dala Inland Dry Port Kano, where Governor Ganduje commissioned the project.

The Dala Inland Dry Port is amongst other IDPs established by the ministry and supervised by the shippers’ council, under the watch of Bello.