The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated its commitment to drive its operation with the deployment of technology.
Its Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho reaffirmed the authority’s belief in the digital application technology’s positive impact during the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Maritime and Logistics event held in Lagos.
“There is a correlation between port operation and hinterland evacuation of cargo. In order to clear the encumbrances in the port access corridor in the Lagos Pilotage District, the Authority engaged the services of Messrs. Trucks Transit Park (TTP) for a real-time solution to the hitherto congestion caused by port-bound trucks.
“The major achievement of this effort is that the Authority has freed up the port access roads in Lagos and has greatly improved the ease of doing business,” the NPA boss said.
He spoke against the backdrop of the introduction of the electronic call-up system known as ETO, designed to streamline the movement of trucks in and out of Lagos ports, continues to attract mixed reactions from stakeholders in the country’s maritime sector, even as its operators intensify efforts to build trust with reforms, trainings and technology upgrades.
Introduced in February 2021 by the NPA in partnership with Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP), the Authority championed the ETO system as a key reform aimed at eliminating chaotic port access, extortion, and inefficiencies that had plagued port corridors, particularly in the Lagos Pilotage District. Over 70,000 trucks have registered with the Eto platform since its launch in February 2021, according to Dantsoho.
Yet on the ground, the sentiment is not uniformly optimistic. During an oversight visit to the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide, delivered a searing rebuke of port terminal operations and the Eto system.
“The electronic call-up system is a fraud because it is not helping our economy. We can no longer condone this, and so, we must do something about it,” he said.
Abejide lamented that terminal operators have become “the biggest problems encountered by the Nigerian Customs Service,” adding that rather than facilitate trade, their inefficiencies were compounding delays and causing gridlocks at the ports.
“Stakeholders in the business are losing a lot of money due to delays that are not occasioned by them or the Customs Service. The painful aspect is that these operators are not losing anything. It is these stakeholders that are losing,” he stated.
Echoing these frustrations, truckers recently raised alarm over extortion and lack of transparency allegedly perpetuated under the guise of Eto enforcement.
“Before now, these ports were congested and chaotic. We thought the introduction of the ETO would ease access and improve management. Initially, it worked.
“But now, we’re being forced to pay between N10,000 and N15,000 unofficially, in addition to the NPA’s N5,000 fee. Sometimes, access costs rise to as much as N200,000. We don’t know where the money goes – there is no accountability. We are dying,” he lamented.
Truckers accused TTP officials of racketeering, alleging forced evictions from garages like the SODICK facility at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, which they claimed to have acquired.
“We are not against the system, but the handlers. The TTP has not been transparent,” said Collins, supported by one Imaho, who demanded the immediate exit of TTP from port operations.
Exporters are also experiencing bottlenecks. Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya of the Lilypond Export Command attributed persistent delays in export cargo movement to Eto-related logistics issues.
“While the command has streamlined the export process, the lack of available slots for trucks to enter the ports remains a major challenge,” Odusanya said.
“Numerous containers remain stranded at Lilypond despite Customs’ efforts due to the inability of trucks to secure clearance under the ETO system.”
Odusanya said between January and December 2024, exports valued at $1.9 billion were processed through Lilypond. In February 2025 alone, $225.1 million in exports were handled. Yet, he said the efficiency gains are undercut by persistent port congestion caused by import traffic and constrained access via ETO.
TTP, on its part, continues to push back against the allegations. In a session with the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria, TTP Managing Director, Jama Onwubuariri, alleged that resistance from entrenched interests was a major challenge.
“Some individuals, both outside and within government, who benefitted from collecting N300,000 and N250,000 per truck before the ETO system, are fighting back. They are not happy that an electronic system has now come to take over their work and their so-called means of livelihood,” he claimed.
He noted that the ETO platform has been upgraded over 160 times since inception to improve security, efficiency, and user experience, stating: “Just like you have your Google apps and other apps that are upgraded from time to time, we’ve made over 160 upgrades to the Eto app since inception.”
To tackle user concerns, TTP recently conducted training for licensed Customs agents and freight forwarders at the Customs Processing Centre in Apapa. The training was aimed at demystifying the Eto platform and reducing reliance on third parties.
“The official price remains the same since inception—N20,750. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers. This training is about empowering you with practical knowledge of the booking procedures,” TTP’s Head of Operations, Irabor Akonoma clarified.
He further explained: “We are equipping stakeholders with the necessary knowledge to navigate the ETO system more effectively. This way, everyone understands their role, and we eliminate avoidable delays and reduce misinformation.”
As Nigeria deepens its regional trade ties under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), experts agree that the nation’s logistics and port efficiency must align with international standards. While the ETO system represents a significant technological leap, they argue ongoing stakeholder distrust, systemic resistance, and operational inefficiencies continue to threaten its long-term viability.
