The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has revealed that over 2.7 million truck movements have been processed through the Eto digital traffic management system in the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors, leading to a 65 percent reduction in cargo transport costs.
This is even as it attributed this success to reforms driven by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Truck Transit Parks Ltd (TTP).
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Apapa, NAGAFF President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, disclosed that the Eto traffic management system has processed about 2.7 million truck movements — both port-bound and non-port-bound — over the last 49 months.
According to him, the reforms have brought down the cost of transporting cargo by 65 percent, while truck turnaround time has dropped from two to three weeks before Eto to less than three days currently.
Chief Ezisi who was represented by the NAGAFF National General Secretary, Godfrey Emeka Nwosu noted that cargo evacuation capacity has also seen a sharp rise. He explained that while fewer than 50 trucks could be moved daily during the pre-Eto era, port corridors now record over 400 truck evacuations per day, particularly benefiting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and oil and gas sectors.
The improvements, he said, have had a ripple effect on Nigeria’s export trade. Export delays, once a major challenge, have been drastically reduced, allowing Nigerian exporters to fulfill contracts without being compelled to provide performance bonds to international buyers. Containers from the hinterlands, he added, now arrive at the ports in a more predictable and timely manner.
Beyond logistics, NAGAFF noted that the reforms have had socio-economic impact. Property values in Apapa, which had collapsed during the height of the gridlock crisis, have appreciated significantly. TTP’s digital traffic operations have also generated about 225 direct jobs and supported more than 500 ancillary workers within the port environment.
Ezisi reminded stakeholders of the dire conditions before the reforms, when persistent gridlock forced many companies to shut down or relocate from Apapa and Lagos, crippling business activities and causing federal and state governments to lose revenue.
He credited the NPA and the then Federal Ministry of Transportation for taking a “strategic decision” to engage TTP, which has since demonstrated the effectiveness of indigenous solutions to long-standing logistical challenges.
While commending the progress, the NAGAFF president warned against complacency, urging the federal government and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to sustain and consolidate the gains.
“The figures speak for themselves. But we must not repeat the old tradition of abandoning progress once initial results are achieved. The government must develop the political will to monitor, enforce, and maintain the standards now in place,” Ezisi said.
He further called for stronger alignment with global standards, stressing that modern ports worldwide are moving towards efficient service delivery, reduced costs, and minimized delays.
“This feat is encouraging and shows that Nigeria has the capacity to solve its own problems. TTP deserves support and encouragement to continue delivering solutions that facilitate trade and enhance competitiveness of our ports,” Ezisi concluded.
On his part, Dr. Increase Uche, a former president of NAGAFF, decried the lack of adequate cargo handling equipment in many terminals. He stressed that the efficiency recorded in traffic management must be matched with improvements in terminal operations, calling on concessionaires and the relevant authorities to invest in modern handling gear to ensure seamless cargo clearance and delivery.
Uche warned that without corresponding improvements inside the terminals, gains made on the port access roads could be undermined, ultimately slowing down trade facilitation efforts.
