For years, the Apapa corridor, the lifeline connecting Lagos Port Complex to the city, was synonymous with chaos. Gridlocked trucks stretched for kilometers, commuters spent hours inching forward, and businesses suffered delays that cascaded down supply chains. Attempts to resolve the perennial traffic nightmare in 2018 and 2019 yielded little more than temporary relief. But a quiet revolution has been unfolding, one that is reshaping port access, restoring order, and offering a glimpse of what efficient logistics can look like in Nigeria.
The catalyst? The full deployment of the Ètò Electronic Call-Up System, a digital truck scheduling and access management platform developed by Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP). Introduced in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ètò replaces the unpredictable manual processes that had long governed entry into Lagos Port Complex. Automated gating systems, integrated IT infrastructure, and a robust digital scheduling framework now dictate when trucks can enter terminals, streamlining cargo flow and significantly reducing congestion.
The NPA’s commitment to enforcing the system has been unwavering, even in the face of resistance from entrenched interests accustomed to the old ways. Residents and commuters who once dreaded the Apapa corridor now report a remarkable improvement. Trucks move in a structured sequence, cargo is evacuated faster, and the roads have regained a sense of order that had been absent for decades.
The system’s impact goes beyond mere traffic management. Twenty-nine strategically located truck parks across Lagos State have been integrated into the Ètò network, ensuring that trucks are scheduled efficiently before even reaching the port. Cargo evacuation has become more predictable, while the risk of theft and security breaches has declined due to controlled access points.
Further complementing road decongestion, the NPA has ramped up the use of railways for cargo transport. Recently, a Kano-based exporter moved 100 tons of millet directly to Lagos Port via rail, simultaneously accommodating passengers in transit. This dual-mode approach—electronic call-up for road access and rail for long-haul cargo—signals a strategic shift in how Nigeria manages its critical supply chains.
While minor incidents occur when truck operators attempt to bypass the system, the broader success of Ètò illustrates how technology, when coupled with firm regulatory oversight, can transform a city’s arteries. For Lagosians who have endured years of road frustration, this is more than an operational win—it is a tangible restoration of daily sanity, efficiency, and hope.
