By Taiye Edeni
Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) says it will collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on the establishment of Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) and modern traffic management system at the ports.
The Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello said this when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the FRSC Corp Marshal in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Bello, there is an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both organisations on Traffic Decongestion signed seven years ago, which was due for review.
“We have a good partnership with FRSC, the MoU between the organisations was signed in 2010 which we want to be reviewed and enhanced to strengthen our collaboration.
“Especially in Truck Transit Parks as modern transport infrastructure which is automated and FRSC has the technique and knowledge in that area.
“We are promoting Inland Dry Ports to decongest the ports and partner with us in the area of modern traffic management system and also train our staff in traffic management.’’
Bello said that there was the need to develop modern transport infrastructure and Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) in the country to reduce havoc and environmental degradation.
According to him, one of the facilities that will be in use in the TTPs is a device to check overloading in trucks, which will also effectively address the issue of overloading on the highways.
“The TTPs are being promoted by the Shippers Council. They are facilities that will be off the highways, where trucks will be conveniently parked to stop the indiscriminate parking of trucks on our roads.
“Such indiscriminate parking causes a lot of havoc and environmental degradation and that is not how to do business.
“We need to have modern transport infrastructure and TTPs to keep the trucks off the highways which will be established through Public Private Partnership.’’
He said that the TTPs when established would provide jobs for many unemployed persons nationwide.
The proposed TTPs are being planned for Lokoja, Benin, Niger, Mararaban-Jos, Obollo-Afor, Ogere, Jebba and Ore.
Responding, FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi promised that the corps would review the MoU to reduce the havoc caused by trucks drivers on the highways.
Oyeyemi said that 90 per cent of trucks on the highway were bought 30 years ago which was not meant to be used on the roads.
According to him, there are 200 illegal motor parks all over the country used for criminal activities.
“We will review the MoU, the enforcement is not a problem because this trucks have really been a problem on the highways.’’
