The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has restated its commitment to maintaining a congestion-free and efficiently regulated port environment, highlighting the significant impact of the Electronic Call-Up System (ETO) on traffic management along the nation’s port corridors.
The NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, made the declaration at the All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking through the Traffic Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, Mr. Jimoh Anthony, Dr. Dantsoho emphasised that the ETO platform has become a cornerstone of the Authority’s digital reform agenda, particularly in the Apapa and Tin Can Island corridors.
Delivering a paper on the retreat’s theme, “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade,” Dr. Dantsoho said; “the introduction of the E-Call Up System has restored order, transparency, and predictability to port access roads that were once overwhelmed by indiscriminate truck movements and chronic gridlock.”
He recalled that prior to the system’s deployment, congestion, unchecked queues, and extended truck dwell times hindered trade facilitation and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness.
According to him, ‘the transition from manual truck scheduling to a centralised, fully digital call-up platform marked one of the most transformative achievements of the initiative.
“The automated process now ensures that only trucks with authenticated reservations gain access to port locations, eliminating human interference and significantly reducing disorder along the corridors.”
Dr. Dantsoho also listed the establishment of transit parks and pre-gate facilities—operated by Truck Transit Parks (TTP)—as a major milestone of the system.
These facilities act as regulated holding bays where trucks undergo pre-inspection and sequencing before approaching the port gates, a development that has helped decongest road shoulders, curb illegal parking, and enhance regulatory oversight.
He noted that measurable improvements in traffic flow across the Apapa and Tin Can corridors reflect the success of the system.
In partnership with security agencies, terminal operators and transport stakeholders, the NPA has recorded shorter truck turnaround times and near-elimination of the perennial gridlock that once crippled port operations.
“The persistent gridlock that once defined the port corridors has been significantly curtailed, and we will never allow it to resurface,” he assured.
To strengthen the integrity of the system, the NPA recently carried out a comprehensive review of the ETO framework.
One of the key outcomes, Dantsoho said, is the redesign of ETO tickets. Under the new arrangement, reservation tickets are now directly linked to Terminal Delivery Orders (TDO) and Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP), guaranteeing full traceability and eliminating opportunities for manipulation, duplication, or unauthorised resale.
Another critical improvement is the full integration of terminal gate barriers with the ETO platform.
Dr. Dantsoho explained that “terminal gates now open only after automated verification of a valid ETO ticket, a measure that blocks unauthorised access, prevents truck diversions and reinforces operational discipline across all ports.”
He said that consistent stakeholder engagement—through consultations with transport unions, terminal operators, freight agents and regulatory agencies—has been essential to the system’s optimisation and continued progress.
Dr. Dantsoho stressed that the E-Call Up System has evolved from an emergency response tool to a comprehensive digital logistics management framework delivering measurable gains in safety, efficiency, and orderliness across Nigeria’s port ecosystem.
“Our goal is clear: to support Nigeria’s long-term trade facilitation objectives and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness,” he affirmed.
In recognition of his contributions to digital optimisation of port operations, Dr. Dantsoho was honoured with the MARCON Lifetime Achievement Award. MARCON noted that his leadership has been instrumental in repositioning Nigerian ports as more transparent, technology-driven gateways for global commerce.
The retreat brought together maritime journalists, regulators and industry stakeholders to explore the role of emerging technologies in promoting sustainable import and export trade in Nigeria.
Lateefah Ibrahim