NPA Deepens Digital Reforms with TTP Partnership

…Dantsoho Says Reforms To Sustain Congestion-Free Ports

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining a congestion-free ports environment through the continued deployment and enhancement of the E-Call Up System, popularly known as ETO, in partnership with Truck Transit Parks (TTP).

Speaking at the Maritime Journalists Retreat organized by the Maritime Correspondents Organization of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos, NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, described the ETO platform as a transformative digital reform that has restored order, transparency, and efficiency to port access roads, particularly in the Apapa and Tin Can Island corridors.

Represented by Jimoh Anthony, Traffic Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Dantsoho noted that prior to the system’s deployment, port corridors were plagued by indiscriminate truck movements, prolonged gridlock, and excessive dwell times that undermined trade facilitation and economic productivity.

“Today, the E-Call Up System has evolved into a robust logistics tool that enables structured truck inflow, improves coordination across the logistics chain, and aligns Nigerian port operations with global best practices,” he stated.

Articulating key gains of the ETO system, he listed the process migration from manual to digital scheduling. According to him, trucks now access ports only with authenticated reservations, eliminating queues and reducing human interference.

Managed by TTP, these regulated holding bays ensure proper sequencing and pre-inspection of trucks before entry, drastically reducing roadside congestion, adding that the redesigned ETO tickets are now tied directly to Terminal Delivery Orders (TDO) and Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP), eliminating fraudulent duplication and resale.

On automated gate barriers, he explained that terminal gates now open only after electronic verification of valid ETO tickets, thus preventing unauthorized entry and reinforcing operational discipline.

Dr. Dantsoho stressed that the persistent gridlock that once defined Apapa and Tin Can corridors has been significantly curtailed, adding: “We will never allow it to resurface. Our goal is clear: to support Nigeria’s long-term trade facilitation objectives and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.”

Also speaking on TTP’s role in strengthening port access, its Managing Director, Mr. Jama Onwuburiri, highlighted the company’s achievements since signing a concession agreement with the Federal Government in 2019 to deploy technology-driven traffic management solutions. He noted that TTP has introduced over 170 feature updates to the ETO platform, maintaining 100 percent uptime since its launch in February 2021.

Onwuburiri outlined further measures to strengthen port access management, including:

-Deployment of E-tag digital identity systems on truck windscreens to eliminate identity fraud.

-Linking all bookings with a standardized interchange transaction number tied to VEP or TDO.

-Investment in terminal infrastructure to reduce truck processing times.

-Stronger consequence management for violators and directives to curb extortion by security agencies.

Despite these gains, he acknowledged challenges such as truck plate number duplication, cloned identities, terminal efficiency gaps, and extortion by enforcement officials.

The retreat also saw MARCON present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, alongside Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Lekki Port, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to maritime trade facilitation and modernization of port operations. The association commended Dantsoho for driving reforms that have repositioned Nigerian ports as efficient, transparent, and technology-driven gateways for trade and commerce.