The chaotic gridlock that paralyzed Lagos ports and disrupted Nigeria’s maritime economy for over a decade is easing, following the rollout of the Ètò electronic call-up system operated by Trucks Transit Parks Limited.

Since its launch in February 2021, Ètò has processed more than 3.2 million truck and non-port movements in 54 months, cutting turnaround times and lowering logistics costs nationwide.

At a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, TTP Managing Director, Jama Onwubuariri, hailed the progress as a landmark in Nigeria’s maritime sector, noting that the platform now schedules about 2,000 truck trips daily, ensuring predictable access to 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 the Ètò system, trucks could wait up to three weeks for port access, with drivers reportedly paying between N500,000 and N700,000 in bribes to move cargo. The inefficiencies pushed evacuation costs up by as much as 550% for cars and 450% for trucks. A 2018 Lagos Chamber of Commerce study estimated annual losses of N2.5 trillion from congestion at Apapa.

According to Richard Emenim, TTP’s Head of Corporate Development, Ètò has since delivered major savings—cutting cargo movement costs by 65% and saving the maritime sector an estimated $1.7 million annually.

“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 said.

Beyond efficiency, the platform has generated 225 direct jobs and over 700 indirect jobs in the logistics ecosystem. Emenim added that TTP has also carried out research across more than 25 states to identify bottlenecks on key trade corridors such as Jigawa and Cross River, with plans to establish nationwide logistics hubs.

Onwubuariri noted that the system has reduced truck turnaround times from several weeks to just two or three days, easing pressure on the supply chain. He highlighted TTP’s integration with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Nigeria Export Proceeds platform, which has simplified export processes, enabled direct fund payments, improved transparency, and eliminated middlemen.

He added that TTP is now looking beyond Nigeria, with plans to expand into the wider ECOWAS region, where similar logistics inefficiencies persist.

“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 been key to Ètò’s success. Olaoluwa Olorunda, TTP’s General Manager for ICT, said the company has rolled out more than 170 customer-focused features to boost user confidence. Among them is DirectFund, a booking and payment solution that has cut failed transactions from 10% to below 1%.

To strengthen security, TTP introduced a dual-code system—combining visible and invisible codes for each booking—which has reduced ticket theft to under 0.5%. It also launched Electronic Control Module version 2, integrating with parking systems and IoT-enabled barriers to ensure only authorised trucks gain entry. According to Olorunda, this has lifted barrier uptime and efficiency by over 80%.

Reflecting on Ètò’s early development, Onwubuariri recalled how then Lagos State Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu reached out in 2019 to seek solutions to the Apapa gridlock crisis.

“The decisiveness of the Lagos State Government and the vision of the Nigerian Ports Authority management were invaluable,” he said.

Four years on, the impact is clear—traffic now flows more smoothly around Apapa and Tin Can, corruption and human interference have declined, and compliance with truck safety standards has improved.

“This is not just about technology,” Onwubuariri said. “It is about restoring confidence that our ports can be efficient, transparent, and globally competitive.”