Nigeria's maritime sector is witnessing a remarkable transformation as digital innovation tackles longstanding port congestion challenges. The Managing Director of Truck Transit Parks (TTP) Limited, Jama Onwubuariri, has called for strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders to accelerate this digital revolution.
From Gridlock to Growth: Eto's Transformative Impact
Speaking at the recent Thought Leadership Roundtable themed "From Gridlock to Growth: Re-Imagining Port Logistics in Nigeria," Onwubuariri revealed stunning statistics about their electronic call-up system's performance. The Eto platform, developed in 2021, has successfully scheduled over 3.38 million truck movements into the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
The system has delivered multiple benefits including reduced corridor traffic, improved turnaround times for both trucks and cargo, and enhanced collaboration among key players. These include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), terminal operators, security agencies, unions, and various transport associations.
More Than Software: A Disciplined Ecosystem
Onwubuariri emphasized that Eto represents more than just technological innovation. "This is not merely a Nigerian success story. It is a case study on the power of technology when policy, private-sector innovation, and operational discipline align," he declared.
The system functions as a comprehensive ecosystem designed to enforce structure and eliminate human interference while creating predictable truck movements. A significant breakthrough addresses vehicle number plate duplication by assigning each truck a unique, tamper-proof digital identity.
The e-tag component, developed in 2023 at a cost of approximately N200 million, awaits regulatory approval and promises to completely eliminate falsification of truck identities at port entries.
Regional Leadership and Future Prospects
Looking beyond Nigeria's borders, Onwubuariri highlighted the system's potential to position Nigeria as a logistics leader within the ECOWAS region. Noting similar challenges in neighboring countries including Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Liberia, he stressed Nigeria's responsibility to pioneer regional logistics reform.
Eto stands ready as an African solution to support cross-border trade and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.
The TTP managing director concluded with a powerful message about collaborative effort: "Technology alone cannot solve the problem. Policy alone cannot enforce consistency. Operators alone cannot sustain progress. But together, we can build a system defined by data, clarity, predictability, and stronger national competitiveness."
The roundtable featured other prominent speakers including Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, and Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC). Commissioner Osiyemi praised the digital initiative, calling for more innovative partnerships and technology investments to transform ports from congestion points into efficient hubs driving national economic growth.
Representing the NPCC chairman, Vice Chairperson Jean-Chaizor Anishere emphasized that port efficiency depends not only on infrastructure but on coordinated regulation. She advocated for deeper multimodal transport integration to reduce cargo dwell times, improve transparency, and enhance Nigeria's competitiveness in global trade markets.
The event concluded with a unified call to action for regulators, operators, unions, and partners to translate insights into concrete policies, ensuring that port efficiency becomes a cornerstone of Nigeria's economic growth and regional trade leadership.
