Indiscriminate Road Parking, Traffic Gridlock Along Port Corridors: NPA Embarks on E-Call Up System to Tackle the Menace
By Raheem Ibrahim
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has commenced the use of an E-Call Up System to address the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles along port road corridors, thereby eliminating the persistent traffic gridlock in the affected areas.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, revealed this in his address at the All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat held on Thursday at De Marii Hotel, Plot J-21, Xiamen Road, Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.
Reaffirming the NPA’s commitment to maintaining a congestion-free port environment, he highlighted significant milestones achieved through the E-Call Up System for trucks, stating that “the system continues to drive efficiency across the nation’s port corridors.”
At the retreat organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), themed “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade,” 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.
Represented by the NPA Traffic Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Jimoh Anthony, he noted that before the deployment of the system, port corridors were plagued by indiscriminate truck movements, prolonged gridlock, and excessive truck dwell times—conditions that severely undermined trade facilitation, port efficiency, and overall economic productivity.
According to him, “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.”
He emphasised that one of the earliest and most significant achievements of the system was the migration from manual call-up procedures to a fully centralised digital truck scheduling platform. This transition, he explained, eliminated manual queues, drastically reduced human interference, and ensured that only trucks with authenticated reservations accessed the port environment—restoring predictability and order to port operations.
Another key milestone was the establishment and integration of transit parks and pre-gate facilities managed by Messrs Truck Transit Parks (TTP). These facilities 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 noted the measurable reduction in road congestion along the Apapa and Tin Can corridors as clear evidence of the system’s impact.
He added that through 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 assured.
He further stressed that continuous stakeholder engagement has been vital to the system’s success. Through regular consultations with transport unions, terminal operators, freight forwarders, and regulatory agencies, the Authority has consistently reviewed and optimised the ETO platform to sustain discipline and enhance adaptability.
Dantsoho also disclosed that the NPA recently undertook a comprehensive review of the E-Call Up framework to address emerging loopholes and strengthen system integrity. This led to 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.
He explained, “This improvement directly addresses vulnerabilities previously exploited by bad actors and significantly enhances transparency across the cargo evacuation process.”
He further announced 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, truck criss-crossing, and diversion to terminals for which trucks are not scheduled.
According to the NPA, this innovation has strengthened sequencing, reduced human interference, and reinforced operational discipline across the port value chain.
He affirmed that the E-Call Up System has transformed from an emergency intervention into a robust digital logistics management framework delivering tangible gains in efficiency, safety, and orderliness across Nigeria’s port corridors. He assured stakeholders that under the current leadership, the NPA remains committed to deepening these reforms, consolidating recorded progress, 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 stated.
