Market News

BY Anozie Egole and Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

The once-infamous traffic gridlock that crippled Lagos ports and disrupted Nigeria’s maritime economy for more than a decade is steadily giving way to sanity, thanks to the introduction of the Ètò electronic call-up system managed by Trucks Transit Parks Limited.

Since its deployment in February 2021, Ètò has successfully processed more than 3.2 million truck and non-port movements across Lagos in just 54 months, slashing turnaround times and cutting logistics costs nationwide.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, TTP’s Managing Director, Jama Onwubuariri, described the transformation as one of the most significant milestones in Nigeria’s maritime history. He noted that the application now schedules about 2,000 truck trips daily, providing predictable access into Apapa and Tin Can ports.

“For over a decade, the arteries of trade in Lagos were clogged by gridlock, racketeering, unsafe trucks, and inefficient cargo evacuation,” Onwubuariri said. “Ètò has changed the narrative. Port access is now based on transparent, technology-enabled scheduling rather than human interference or bribes. This has restored confidence that our ports can compete favourably in the region.”

Before Ètò, trucks often spent two to three weeks waiting for entry, with drivers paying between N500,000 and N700,000 in bribes to move cargo. The inefficiencies drove cargo evacuation costs up by as much as 550 per cent for cars and 450 per cent for trucks. A Lagos Chamber of Commerce study in 2018 estimated that the country was losing N2.5tn annually to congestion at Apapa.

TTP’s Head of Corporate Development, Richard Emenim, said the electronic call-up system has already saved Nigeria’s maritime sector an estimated $1.7m annually while reducing the cost of moving cargo by 65 per cent. “Manufacturers are now able to repatriate goods faster, oil and gas evacuation has improved, and consumers are no longer forced to bear the brunt of inflated costs,” he explained.

The platform’s impact extends beyond efficiency. According to Emenim, TTP has created 225 direct jobs and more than 700 indirect jobs within the logistics ecosystem. The company has also conducted research in over 25 states, identifying traffic bottlenecks in major trade corridors such as Jigawa and Cross River, with plans to roll out nationwide logistics hubs.

These hubs, he said, will provide gated facilities where truckers can park, refuel—including compressed natural gas options—rest in hostels, and access recreational and repair services. “Our aim is to create a holistic ecosystem for truckers while sustaining gains made in port logistics,” he said.

Onwubuariri added that the system has cut truck turnaround times from weeks to just two or three days, reducing pressure on the supply chain. He stressed that TTP’s integration with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Nigeria Export Proceeds system has streamlined export processes and introduced direct fund payments, thereby enhancing transparency and eliminating middlemen.

Looking beyond Nigeria, he revealed that TTP is preparing to expand into the wider ECOWAS region, where countries face similar logistics inefficiencies. “During a recent strategic tour from Abidjan to Ouagadougou and Monrovia, we saw the same bottlenecks of border delays and road congestion. Our solution can unlock seamless intra-African trade,” he said.

Technology upgrades have also played a central role in the platform’s success. Olaoluwa Olorunda, TTP’s General Manager for ICT, disclosed that the company has deployed over 170 customer-experience features to improve user trust. Among them is DirectFund, a seamless booking and payment solution that has cut failed transactions from 10 per cent to less than one per cent.

To tighten security, TTP introduced a dual-code system—visible and invisible codes—for each booking, reducing stolen tickets to under 0.5 per cent. The company also launched Electronic Control Module version 2, an innovation that integrates with parking systems and IoT-enabled barriers to ensure only authorised trucks access restricted areas. Olorunda noted that this has improved barrier uptime and efficiency by over 80 per cent.

Reflecting on the early journey of Ètò, Onwubuariri recalled how then Governor-Elect of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reached out in 2019 to explore solutions for the Apapa crisis. “The decisiveness of the Lagos State Government and the vision of the Nigerian Ports Authority management were invaluable,” he said.

Four years later, the results are visible: improved traffic flow along Apapa and Tin Can, reduced corruption and human interference, and enhanced compliance with truck safety standards. “This is not just about technology,” Onwubuariri said. “It is about restoring confidence that our ports can be efficient, transparent, and globally competitive.”

With over three million truck trips processed, billions saved for the economy, and expansion plans across Africa, TTP’s Ètò system stands as a case study in how technology, government partnership, and private-sector innovation can solve entrenched national problems.