Seaports: Fertilizer evacuation stalled as truckers protest NPA sticker levy

As a new farming season beckons, government’s hope of boosting food production through prompt distribution of fertilizers imported into the country may be scuttled as a result of the inadequate number of haulage trucks available to evacuate the commodity from the ports. According to findings, a N10,000 truck ticketing levy imposed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is being blamed as truck owners complained that many of them have been unable to meet the requirements for obtaining the permit.

The ticketing levy was introduced by the NPA in 2016 as part of its measures on truck standardisation in order to improve the operational state of haulage trucks and minimise road accidents.

Over the weekend, the products in white bags were sighted by our correspondent at two of the terminals in Lagos; ENL Terminal at the Lagos Ports Complex and Josepdam Terminal at Tin Can Island Port.

A cross section of truckers who spoke with Nigerian Tribune confirmed that there have been massive drop in the number of haulage trucks permitted to access the ports as a result of the N10,000 sticker permit demanded by the NPA.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively on the issue, Dry Cargo President of NARTO, Inuwa Abdullahi, held NPA responsible.

The NARTO chieftain claimed it is difficult for truckers all over the country to register their trucks with NPA in Lagos State alone, adding that the process of registration has also affected a large number of trucks involved in the lifting of cargoes from the ports.

“We agree and support the minimum standardisation of trucks, but the N10,000 sticker levy is an additional burden many truck owners are not prepared to bear.

“It is affecting the lifting of fertilizers at the ports. The numbers of trucks that are available to lift the fertilizers are small all because getting the NPA N10,000 truck sticker permits is very cumbersome, Abdullahi said.

When asked why the process is so cumbersome, Abdullahi explained that, “You know trucks lifting this fertilizers from the ports are coming mainly from the North. This NPA sticker policy is alien to the truckers from the Northern part of the country.

“They are complaining that the process is too cumbersome after they have already paid their levies to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the VIO. That is why most of them are refusing to come to the ports to lift the fertilizers.

He urged the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, to intervene and liaise with the NPA to stave off a major accumulation of fertilisers at the ports.