When in February, 2021 that the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) deployed electronic call up system for truckers operating in the Lagos ports corridor, it never contemplated that it was enthroning a perfect system.
The NPA management knew it would a job in progress and fully ready for the dynamism that operating environment throws up from time to time.
The call up system known as ETO was envisioned for consignees to drop empty containers at the holding bay of shipping companies, from where the shipping lines were expected to be responsible for taking the empties. This system aimed at decongesting the ports access roads and terminals snapped after a while.
With human interferences, the managers of the project, Truck Transit Park (TTP) Limited was expected to always re-invent the system and itself to remain relevant to the call to solve the twin problem of congestion and traffic on the ports access roads.
It is therefore not a surprise that stakeholders have over time reeled out doses of complaints about the intervening errors and sabotage from the ETO system. Although these challenges have questioned the propriety of the ETO application, has the port industry felt its impact? Should it be jettisoned for a new system?
The Council of Maritime Truck Associations and Unions, COMTUA has highlighted issues of concern ranging from double taxation, extortion, favouritism, incompetence, corruption, loss of jobs, militarization, fraud, etc as major characteristics of the current regime under TTP, but none caught the attention of its promoters four years into its existence”, the National President of COMTUA,Adeyinka Aroyewun asserted in a recent press statement.
Expectedly, TTP management has its own barrage of sabotage against the system from the truckers, which has kept them on their toes to always think out of the box.
TTP has revealed how haulage operators circumvent port security through plate number duplication. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Head of Operations of the TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman explained that most truckers resell their electronic Call-Up system ticket to third parties for higher prices, thus exposing port operations to security lapses through entry of unapproved trucks into port terminals.
According to the TTP Head of Operations, “What these truckers do is when they get ETO ticket; they resell to another trucker at a higher price. After selling, the original owner of the ETO ticket now removes or duplicates the plate number of his truck and gives it to the trucker that bought the ETO ticket so that port security won’t detect what happened.
“This raises security issues because unapproved trucks are gaining entry into port terminals after buying ETO ticket from their colleagues and also duplicating plate numbers.”
When asked what TTP has done to tackle this menace, Mr Akonoman explained that, “We have come up with the introduction of the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which is the E-Tag.
“RFID is an electronic tag used for truck identification. We have tested the technology. We have done prototyping. We have everything needed to get it done. We’re only waiting for approvals from the regulatory body.
“Once we do the RFID, a number of the challenges we face as regards unauthorised truck entry into port terminals will be addressed. A situation where a trucker gets ETO Booking from us and sells it to another trucker to use raises security concerns.
“The RFID E-Tag is a unique identifier. You cannot remove it and give it to somebody else. With the RFID E-Tag, there won’t be need for paper tickets any longer. The RFID radio will read the electronic tag and the barrier will open for the truck to go into the port terminals. Once you cannot resell, if you book the electronic ETO ticket for your truck, it is only your truck that can enter the port with it.”
Disconcerted by the problems associated with truck call up application,the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF has called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola to review the modus operandi of the Eto call up system with a view to forestall the return of the Apapa traffic which it described as a nightmare to most port users in the past.
NAGAFF, in a letter addressed to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu, dated 8th May, 2025 and signed by its National Secretary, Godfrey Emeka Nwosu, said that from the information available to it, there was gradual build-up of traffic most times in recent times, indicative of the fact that ETO Call-Up system was relapsing hence the need for something urgent to be done to avert it.
The association also expressed it unwillingness to return back to the days of the nightmares called Apapa traffic even as it called for thorough investigation to unravel the disgruntled traffic Officers, NPA and TTP Staff that may be complicit on the observable clogs in the wheel of the progress of automated traffic management systems.
Going back in history, NAGAFF recalled that prior to 2022 fiscal year, the port roads were literally blocked with vehicular movement always reduced to standstill which in turn became a source of worry to all port users and an embarrassment to both the state and Federal governments.
Noting that there were humongous economic losses by both public and private sectors, it said, “As a result, businesses began to collapse, companies relocated out of Apapa due to the recalcitrant, perennial traffic gridlock. The traffic situation became a quagmire that defied all known solutions. Several Taskforces on road decongestion were constituted, but after sometime, they petered out.
“Based on the persistent negative effects of the road congestion, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in conjunction with Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA engaged a digital traffic management company: Truck Transit Parks Limited, an indigenously-owned private company. It was charged with the responsibility to decongest the port access roads.
“The Management of Truck Transit Parks Limited led by Barr. Jama Onwubuariri carried out a holistic study of the monumental traffic malaise that almost crippled the port operations in Lagos. They immediately commenced engagement and sensitization of all the critical stakeholders on the need to prepare and align themselves with the revolution that was in the offing.
“True to their timely promises during the retinue of sensitization programmes, they deployed massive infrastructure, state-of-the-art technological know-how. Within a space of less than two years, the traffic was virtually eliminated. The Port traffic systems are highly automated. The port access roads, hitherto inaccessible, have become accessible.”
Insisting, however, that were still traces of draw-backs as truckers were vehemently complaining that the time spent at the pre-gates were long, NAGAFF said, “There is noticeable inefficiency in the call-up system of trucks from the Pre-gate.”
It continued, “While many truckers spend longer periods waiting to be called from the Pre-gates, some are given preferential treatment to the extent that some truckers access the ports through one-way in the full glare of the security personnel. This malfeasance happens especially at nights.
“Another challenging draw-back is the high level of extortion by the Traffic officers. Every checkpoint from the pre- gates to the port gates has a huge amount each trucker must pay before he is allowed to get to the next checkpoint. There are well organized corrupt syndicates among the traffic officers to ensure that their money is paid per truck. Failure to pay, the trucker is immediately turned back.
“Yet another challenging problem is the existence of a cartel whose stock-in- trade is to process the ETO call- up code through manipulation and hoard them to create artificial scarcity. This occasionally results in selling the code at the cost of over Four Hundred Thousand naira (N400,000), per code. This cost is instantly transferred to the haulage cost to as high as One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) for local delivery of cargoes.
“The irony of this is that this mess happens only in Lagos Port Complex. There are four major terminals inside the Lagos Port Complex. This doesn’t happen at TinCan, which has similar multiple terminals. There are first and second gates at TinCan, while Lagos Port complex has only one In-get.
“In our considered opinion, therefore, much as we commend the combined efforts of the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority and the Managing Director of TTP Limited, and of course the organized associations like NAGAFF, ANLCA, trucking associations for the cooperation and collaboration to achieve the milestones, it is evident that, much work is still needed to be done.
“From available information, there is gradual build-up of traffic most times in recent times, indicative of the fact that ETO Call-Up system is relapsing. Therefore, something urgent has to be done.
“We call on the Hon. Minister to review the modus operandi of the ETO Call-up System. The machinery needs to be rejigged. We are unwilling to be taken back to Egypt. Thorough investigation needs to be conducted to unravel the disgruntled traffic Officers, NPA and TTP Staff that may be complicit on the above mentioned and observable clogs in the wheel of the progress of automated traffic management systems.
“There is urgent need for the federal government to intervene and unmask the remote cause or causes of low productivity at the moment vide corruption activities, bottleneck of NPA and the shortcomings of the operators of ETO – call – up system.”
The association, however, promised to make further statements to include appropriate recommendations for Mr. President to be decisive on ailing government agencies and its leadership who may not have keyed into the mantra of renewed hope for a greater Nigeria.
In what seems like a mission to settle a score, COMTUA questioned the moral grounds upon which NAGAFF raised some statements of concern about the operations of ETO, claiming that it is tinged with compromise.
COMTUA stated in a press statement thus,”We are aware of the desperation of Truck Transit Park Limited to renew its five years contract that will expire soon, however, the recruitment of NAGAFF on the list of its promoters is disturbing.
“NAGAFF seems to be a beneficiary and not a victim of the congestion and the fraudulent call-up system as all associated cost or fees are paid either by the importers or the transporter; we are therefore wrong to expect such a body to join us in the advocacy against such a failed system.
“Truck owners and operators were extorted criminally at Kirikiri to the tune of over N2billion in 2021 but it attracted no condemnation from these promoters.We challenge NAGAFF to an open debate on this matter.
To many observers, ETO has done more good than harm to the port industry and trade facilitation in context, therefore, compliance, monitoring and evaluation are required for improved services.
