E’TO Revolution: Digital call-up system restores sanity to Apapa roads
…Stakeholders hail FG, Oyetola, NPA’s Dantsoho for transforming port logistics
By Maureen Aguta
For years, the Apapa Port corridor was Nigeria’s symbol of dysfunction — a labyrinth of stationary trucks, touts, and frustration that crippled commerce and drained productivity. Today, that nightmare has largely ended. Order has returned, powered by the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) deployment of the Ètò Electronic Call-Up System — a digital innovation that has redefined port traffic management and restored efficiency to Lagos ports.
The Ètò platform, developed by Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP), is a comprehensive traffic management solution that schedules, tracks, and authenticates the movement of trucks entering and exiting port terminals. What began as a stopgap measure has now evolved into a nationwide model for automated access control, real-time monitoring, and data-driven logistics.
Digital Order Replaces Decades of Chaos
Central to the success of this transformation is the integration of electronic barriers across all Lagos Port Complex terminals. The barriers lift only for trucks with verified Ètò-issued call-up tickets, ensuring every truck movement is pre-approved, logged, and traceable.
“The barrier system gives us end-to-end visibility and control — from booking to terminal exit,” explained Mrs. Stella Oladiran, NPA’s General Manager, Operations. “We can now account for every truck’s movement, eliminate human interference, and measure operational efficiency in real time.”
Before this reform, Apapa’s arteries were choked by unregulated truck diversions, fake call-up slips, and illegal parking. The Ètò system and barrier integration have sealed those loopholes, saving time and money for transporters, exporters, and terminal operators.
Stakeholders Applaud FG, Oyetola, and Dantsoho
Port stakeholders have hailed the Federal Government, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, for their steadfast commitment to reforming the ports and restoring sanity to Apapa roads.
According to Mr. Adebowale Lawal, Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, the Ètò system has brought discipline, transparency, and structure to truck traffic.
“We’ve integrated terminal gates with the Ètò platform to manage entry and exit in a coordinated manner,” Lawal said. “What you now see on Apapa roads is not gridlock but sequenced truck movement. This system is sustainable because it is digital and transparent. Credit goes to the NPA leadership under Dr. Dantsoho and the guidance of Minister Oyetola.”
Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, also lauded the transformation, dismissing reports of a gridlock resurgence as “false and misleading.”
“All the roads to Apapa — Wharf, Creek, and adjoining routes — are now clear and orderly,” he said. “Trucks move in single, controlled lanes. That’s progress. We commend the Federal Government, NPA, and TTP for their resolve. For once, technology is driving discipline at our ports.”
Beyond Traffic: Automation Expands to Multimodal Transport
The NPA’s reform agenda under Dr. Dantsoho extends far beyond truck control. The Authority has revived rail and barge operations as part of a broader multimodal logistics strategy designed to reduce pressure on road infrastructure.
A Kano-based exporter told reporters that shipping 100 tons of millet to Lagos Port via rail cost nearly half what it would have by road. “Rail transport is faster, cheaper, and more reliable now that NPA is coordinating the logistics,” he said.
The Authority has also implemented a new empty-container policy mandating shipping lines to evacuate at least 80 per cent of inbound containers as empties or export cargo, easing congestion at terminals.
An NPA logistics officer explained that barge operations have been streamlined. “We have licensed only operators with verified communication and safety equipment to prevent breakdowns or collisions on waterways. It’s now an organized ecosystem.”
Analysts: ‘NPA Has Restored Investor Confidence’
Maritime analysts say the Ètò system has achieved more than traffic control — it has rebuilt trust in Nigeria’s port logistics.
“What NPA has done is to institutionalize predictability,” said Dr. Friday Akpan, a port development expert. “Investors and exporters can now plan with certainty. Transparency in truck movement and scheduling has replaced corruption and chaos. The Ètò model has given Nigeria a modern logistics identity.”
Dr. Akpan added that the electronic barriers complement digital monitoring with physical enforcement — a hallmark of globally competitive ports. “Every truck journey is logged, auditable, and accountable. That’s a leap toward world-class port operations,” he noted.
NPA Reaffirms Commitment to Order
Reacting to attempts by vested interests to discredit the reforms, NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transparency and order.
“The era of illegal port access and tout-driven logistics is over,” he declared. “The Ètò system and electronic barriers have institutionalized accountability. Those who benefited from the old chaos are behind false reports, but the reforms are irreversible.”
He added that NPA remains open to stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement. “Our goal is clear — to make Nigerian ports globally competitive and efficient. Under the leadership of Dr. Dantsoho and the guidance of Minister Oyetola, that goal is within reach.”
A Model for African Ports
With the success recorded at the Lagos Port Complex, the NPA is set to replicate the Ètò model across Tin Can Island, Onne, and Calabar Ports. Analysts believe the system positions Nigeria as a benchmark for port automation in Africa.
From gridlock to order, the Apapa corridor’s transformation shows what technology and strong political will can achieve. For the first time in decades, Lagos Port is running efficiently — in line, on schedule, and under control.