FG Loses N50bn On Truck Terminals Annually

Statistics and rough estimates have shown that the Nigerian loses more than N50 billion annually on truck terminal operations.

Disclosing this to The Tide in Port Harcourt, a chartered transporter, Mr. Basil Opara stated that his study and observation of neglect of construction of truck terminals by both federal and state governments has made several billions of naira to slip off a revenue from government coffers.

In his submission, Opara, who is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of Nigeria (CILTN) described a truck terminal as a designated place of interchange for vehicles of about 20 tonnes of weight carrying liquid, gaseous or solid products and goods.

He said at this destined place, the drivers, especially those on long distance journey either rest or load products into their vehicles, and may as well re-load into another vehicle, and hence is described as a place of interchange.

According to him, “it is surprising to note that truck terminals could hardly be found, and in place of such, drivers on long distance journey and others make use of the road side on the high ways, and so imposing very greater difficulties to other road users.

In Port Harcourt area and environs alone which habours Eleme Petrochemical, Refinery, Onne Port and the free Zone Authority, Opara said that the trucks around this area out numbers 10,000, pointing out that if they are packed at the terminal, and a daily fee of N50 is collected, he said that will amount to almost half million Naira daily.

The same could be said at various points around Port Harcourt, including the cement factories and jetties where trucks anchor, and that if all of them are collated, that the revenue turn out in Port Harcourt area alone in truck terminal will be very surprising, adding that this could create job opportunity for people in the state.

In Lagos State, the chartered transporter said that the story is not different as about N20,000 trucks of different towns capacity converge around Apapa, Ijora, Nigerian Breweries among others in stretch.

He said most of these vehicles even park on top of the overhead bridge, pointing out that this could be another time bomb, if care is not taken.

Several areas across the country like the Ore Station in Ondo State and the Aviele near Benin City are good example of interchange where vehicles are packed at the road periphery, thereby putting more pressure on the road side.

Opara, however, remarked that the construction of truck terminals has symbolic relationship between government and the operators as well as other road users.

Corlins Walter