TTP confirms N4.2bn investment in electronic call-up system

The management of the Truck Transit Park Limited said the company invested between N3.8 to N4.2bn in setting up the electronic call-up system between 2021 till date.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TTP, Mr Jama Onwubuariri, stated this on Thursday in Lagos while addressing journalists during its leadership session.

The event was themed, ‘From Gridlock to Growth: Re-imagining Ports Logistics in Nigeria’. He added that the e-tag system, which the firm is giving out free to truckers, costs them about N200m.

“The e-tag solution, which we agreed to deploy for free, cost us about N200m to deploy. So, from 2021 to now, we have invested up to N3.8bn to N4.2bn across the board,” Onwubuariri stated.

He disclosed that the platform has scheduled 3.38 million truck movements within four years and nine months. Onwubuariri blamed the porous nature of plate number registration in the country for the illegal duplication of plate numbers by some truckers at the ports.

“It is because of the porous nature of plate number administration in Nigeria. We don’t have a single authority that is responsible for producing number plates. And also, drivers seem to have this ability to go and use either another person’s number plate or to duplicate their own number plate or even to produce a number plate that does not exist and use it for the purpose of registering their vehicles or their trucks on Eto,” he said.

In a bid to tackle this challenge, Onwubuariri, however, mentioned that the platform has developed an electronic tagging system that ensures that each truck has a digital identity that does not change.

“That digital identity is also tamper-proof. So, when it is put on a truck, if you remove it, it means that that truck’s identity has been damaged. That truck will not be able to operate on this system. It’s like removing the brain box of your vehicle. That vehicle will not function. So, we have developed the e-tag system. And since 2023, we have been waiting for approval by the regulator for that e-tag to be deployed,” he stressed.

He pointed out that as soon as the e-tags are deployed, trucks will no longer be able to change their digital identity either by using other persons’ plate numbers or by faking a plate number and trying to use it to register on the system.

The TTP boss highlighted that the firm has developed an ETO Interchange Transaction Number. He explained that what the interchange number does is that, “When a terminal operator has called a truck to come into the port, it is mandated under that platform to only service the truck that it invited and not any other truck.”

He maintained that the platform has to do with regulation and enforcement. “As a private operator, we cannot enforce that with terminal operators because we have no oversight over them. So that is where regulation on the part of the NPA and other regulators will need to come in,” he stated.

He expressed hope that these laudable ideas would be implemented before the end of the year. “We cannot control what our regulator does in terms of the timeline for their actions. So we continue our advocacy, we continue our engagement, and we are hopeful that they will, in the shortest possible time, see reason to give approval. So we have made our submissions, presentations have been made, and we are simply waiting for executive management decisions,” he added.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, represented by the Director, Transport Operations, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, said as Nigeria continues to navigate the complexities of its transportation and logistics networks, “It is at a crucial juncture, where innovative ideas and collaborative efforts can create pathways for growth and development, while transforming its port logistics from the challenges of gridlock to the opportunities for prosperity.”

Osiyemi highlighted challenges such as congestion, inefficiency, and a lack of integrated systems that hinder the ports from reaching their full potential. He noted that with the right partnerships, investment in technology, and a commitment to reform, the ports can be turned into thriving hubs of commerce that support not only the economy but also the seamless movement of goods across our great nation.

The commissioner called for stakeholders’ collaboration to devise strategies that address the current challenges, enhance capabilities, and drive sustainable growth at the nation’s ports. “Our vision for a modernised, efficient port system is within reach, but it will require unwavering dedication, strategic planning, and a united approach. Together, we can re-imagine the future of Nigeria’s port logistics and create a framework that supports our national aspirations,” he said.

The Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, said the ports are the backbone of Nigeria’s trade and economic development, yet the effectiveness of these ports depends not only on infrastructure but on how well the regulatory institutions work together.

Sunmola, who was represented by the Vice Chairperson, NPCC, Jean-Chaizor Anishere (SAN), highlighted that too many agencies operate in silos, processes remain largely manual, cargo dwell time is high, and operators face multiple layers of checks that delay movement and increase cost.

He said these inefficiencies ripple through the entire economy, “Raising the cost of production, discouraging investment, and diminishing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.”

Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remy Ogungbemi, commended the Eto system. He added that those complaining about the platform are the people who were gaining from the old chaos system.

The Electronic Call-Up System, also known as ‘Eto’, was launched to address severe truck congestion around major Nigerian seaports, especially at Lagos Ports. By scheduling truck movement digitally, NPA aims to control entry into port complexes, reduce unauthorised access, and improve the efficiency of cargo evacuation. It’s part of a broader modernisation and automation agenda by the NPA.