The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a congestion-free port environment by highlighting the significant milestones achieved through the E-Call Up System for trucks. This system continues to drive efficiency across the nation’s port corridors.
This assurance was given by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho in an address delivered at the Nigeria Maritime Journalists Retreat organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON).
The event, themed “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade,” was held on Thursday, 4 December 2025, at De Marii Hotel, Lekki Free Zone.
Dr. Dantsoho described the E-Call Up System popularly known as ETO as a critical digital reform that has restored order, transparency and efficiency to port access roads, particularly in the Apapa and Tin Can Island corridors.
The MD, who was represented by the Traffic Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Jimoh Anthony, noted that prior to the deployment of the system, the port corridors were characterised by indiscriminate truck movements, prolonged gridlock and excessive truck dwell times, conditions which severely undermined trade facilitation, port efficiency and overall economic productivity.
“Today, the E-Call Up System has evolved into a transformative digital logistics tool that enables structured truck inflow, improves coordination across the logistics chain and aligns Nigerian port operations with global best practices,” the Managing Director stated.
According to the NPA boss, one of the earliest and most fundamental achievements of the system was the migration from manual call-up procedures to a fully centralised digital truck scheduling platform. He explained that this transition eliminated manual queues, drastically reduced human interference and ensured that only trucks with authenticated reservations accessed the port environment, thereby restoring predictability and order to port operations.
Another notable milestone identified was the establishment and integration of transit parks and pre-gate facilities, managed by Messrs. Truck Transit Parks (TTP). These facilities, he said, serve as regulated holding bays where trucks undergo pre-inspection and proper sequencing before entering the ports, significantly reducing roadside congestion while strengthening regulatory oversight.
Dr. Dantsoho also pointed to the measurable reduction in road congestion along the Apapa and Tin Can corridors as a clear indicator of the system’s impact. He said that in collaboration with security agencies, terminal operators and other stakeholders, the E-Call Up System has improved traffic flow, shortened truck turnaround time and drastically reduced indiscriminate roadside parking.
“The persistent gridlock that once defined the port corridors has been significantly curtailed, and we will never allow it to resurface,” he emphasised.
The NPA Managing Director further noted that continuous stakeholder engagement has played a key role in the success of the system. Through regular consultations with transport unions, terminal operators, freight forwarders and relevant regulatory agencies, the Authority has continually reviewed and optimised the ETO platform to sustain discipline and improve adaptability.
Speaking on recent developments, Dr. Dantsoho disclosed that the NPA recently undertook a comprehensive review of the E-Call Up framework to address emerging loopholes and strengthen system integrity.
One of the outcomes of the review, he said, was the redesign and security enhancement of ETO tickets. Under the new framework, ETO tickets are now directly tied to the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) and Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), ensuring end-to-end traceability and eliminating fraudulent duplication or resale of tickets.
“This improvement directly addresses vulnerabilities that were previously exploited by bad actors and significantly enhances transparency across the cargo evacuation process,” he said.
Another major advancement highlighted was the full integration of terminal gate barriers with the ETO platform. With this integration, terminal barriers open only after electronically verifying a valid ETO ticket, preventing unauthorised entry, criss-crossing of trucks and diversion to terminals for which trucks are not scheduled.
This innovation, according to the NPA, has strengthened sequencing, reduced human interference and reinforced operational discipline across the entire port value chain.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Dantsoho stressed that the E-Call Up System has progressed from being an emergency intervention to a robust digital logistics management framework delivering tangible gains in efficiency, safety and orderliness along the nation’s ports corridors.
He assured stakeholders that under the current leadership, the NPA remains resolute in deepening these reforms, consolidating the progress already achieved and ensuring that Nigeria’s ports never return to the era of chronic congestion.
“Our goal is clear: to support Nigeria’s long-term trade facilitation objectives and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness,” the Managing Director affirmed.
The MARCON retreat brought together maritime journalists, industry stakeholders and regulators to examine how emerging technologies can be leveraged to promote sustainable import and export trade in Nigeria.
