The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the alleged decline of efficiency and rising sabotage within the port traffic management system, particularly the Electronic Call-Up (ETO) system used in managing truck movement in and out of the Lagos port corridor.
In a letter addressed to the President and copied to key stakeholders, NAGAFF, through its Secretary General, Godfrey E. Nwosu, lamented the return of bottlenecks that once crippled economic activities within the Apapa Port axis. According to the association, although the ETO system initially brought a breath of fresh air with its automation and traffic control efficiency, the current situation reveals a dangerous relapse, threatening the gains recorded since its introduction.
NAGAFF recalled the state of chaos prior to 2022, where trucks were trapped in endless gridlocks, bringing port activities and surrounding businesses to a near halt. Companies were forced to relocate from Apapa due to the perennial traffic nightmare. The ETO system, introduced by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and managed by Transit Truck Park (TTP) Nigeria Limited, was hailed as a solution after massive technological deployment and stakeholder engagement.
However, NAGAFF noted that the system is now plagued by serious lapses. The association expressed concern over truckers being made to wait endlessly at pre-gates, while others with connections allegedly gain preferential access to the ports, sometimes using one-way routes at night under the watch of security personnel. NAGAFF also accused traffic officers of institutionalized extortion, saying that truckers must pay bribes at every checkpoint to avoid being turned back, further increasing the cost of logistics.
More disturbing is the revelation of a cartel manipulating the issuance of ETO call-up codes. These codes, originally meant to regulate orderly access to the ports, are reportedly being hoarded and sold for as high as ₦400,000 per truck. This manipulation pushes haulage costs to over ₦1 million per local delivery. NAGAFF pointed out that this abuse is prevalent only at the Lagos Port Complex, which has a single gate, unlike Tin Can Port that operates multiple entry points.
Despite acknowledging the efforts of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Managing Director of NPA, TTP management, and other associations working collaboratively to improve port access, NAGAFF warned that the re-emergence of traffic and corrupt practices signals a breakdown in the system. It stated clearly that if urgent steps are not taken, the port environment risks returning to its chaotic past.
The association is therefore urging a review and restructuring of the ETO system, calling for a thorough investigation to identify and sanction NPA and TTP staff allegedly involved in the sabotage. It emphasized that any agency or personnel frustrating the success of the call-up system must be held accountable, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration.
NAGAFF maintained that it would continue to monitor the situation and present further recommendations to the President. It reiterated its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency, efficiency, and sanity in the Nigerian port ecosystem.
