South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) officially handed over the Nesitu parking yard to the Ministry of Transport on Thursday.
This essential facility aims to streamline clearance procedures and improve safety along the Juba-Nimule Highway.
Constructed by the Premier Group Limited, the facility includes a large parking yard with a capacity for 250 trucks and a full-perimeter fence for security.
Mr. Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, stated that the facility, equipped with roadside parking and a customs checkpoint, will serve as a critical spot check for all inbound cargo destined for Juba and other parts of the country.
“This facility will serve as a critical checkpoint for all inbound cargo destined for Juba and other parts of the country,” Deng told SSBC on Thursday.
Deng noted that the facility is expected to reduce road congestion, curb smuggling, and improve the working atmosphere for truckers and customs officers.
“It introduces an additional layer of inspection and control. We will significantly enhance compliance, security, and revenue assurance,” he said.
“In particular, this year’s Honorable Minister will help curb the smuggling of sensitive goods such as cigarettes, alcohol, and hookah tobacco, which we have been struggling to control.”
For his part, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, Minister of Transport, stated that the Nisitu parking yard represents a transformative milestone for South Sudan, adding that it will reduce fatigue-related accidents and improve overall road safety.
“The Nisitu Roadside Station represents a transformative milestone for South Sudan, bringing a number of expected benefits, including enhanced road safety by providing a secure and organised environment for truck drivers to rest, thus reducing fatigue-related accidents and improving overall road safety,” Akol said.
Hassan Masaka, a long-distance truck driver, underscored the significance of parking yards to drivers, highlighting their roles in supporting trade and regional transport.
“You are entering inside for this parking; security is very strict here. If you enter there, you don’t see anything wrong. So, I see this parking is good. There are no thieves here to steal things,” Masaka said.
The Northern Corridor is a multimodal route linking to the maritime port of Mombasa.
It serves the East African Community (EAC) states of South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, DR Congo, and Rwanda under the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement in a bid to promote regional cooperation by facilitating interstate and transit trade.
