Stakeholders in Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors are expressing growing concern over the delayed renewal of the Eto Electronic Call-Up System, with the current concession set to expire in February 2026, just three months away.
Introduced in February 2021, the system was designed to bring order to the chaotic truck transit corridors leading to the ports, drastically reducing the gridlock that had long plagued the area.
Shipping Position Daily has learned that despite repeated inquiries, the concession renewal has yet to be finalized, and no official reason has been provided by the authorities.
A staff member of Eto, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the renewal process is still pending. “We are yet to get the concession renewed. Even when asked for reasons behind the delay, no official explanation has been given. We are simply awaiting directives from the relevant authorities,” she said.
Operators argue that the system has already demonstrated its value.
Sanni Bala Mohammed, a transport sector stakeholder, said the introduction of Eto has transformed the Apapa transportation corridor from a corridor of disorder to one of efficiency and predictability. “Before the advent of Eto, trucks queued for weeks, sometimes months, waiting to access the port. The environment was chaotic. Today, accessing the port is seamless.
The system deserves to have its contract renewed because it has brought sanity to operations,” he said.
Mohammed added that the economic impact of the system has been equally significant. The Apapa area, which had previously suffered economic decay due to persistent congestion, has begun to recover. “The corridor used to be a ghost town. Property values depreciated, businesses suffered, and the community stagnated. Eto has inspired life back into Apapa,” he said.
Despite these successes, stakeholders warn that operational challenges are emerging, particularly regarding the ‘evacuation call-up’; a feature meant to allow trucks carrying special cargo to bypass certain checkpoints for faster port access.
Mohammed explained that over time, this feature has been abused by operators outside its intended category, leading to new congestion points.
“The evacuation call-up was meant for trucks with special cargo. Unfortunately, people started using it to circumvent standard procedures, causing congestion and unfair advantages for some operators. The Nigerian Port Authority must intervene to prevent this from undermining the gains of the system,” he said.
The misuse of the evacuation call-up, stakeholders argue, has exposed weaknesses in monitoring and enforcement.
“The system is designed to work on a first-in, first-out basis. But when certain profiles are abused, the process slows for everyone else. The Port Authority must correct these anomalies before they sabotage the primary purpose of Eto,” Mohammed warned.
Chief Remi Ogungbemi, Chieftain of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO another stakeholder, emphasized the indispensable role of technology in regulating port traffic.
“Even before Eto, the volume of truck activities was unmanageable. We needed a technological solution to bring order. Eto has reduced chaos dramatically, and though no system is perfect, the benefits are clear,” he said.
Ogungbemi drew an analogy to the evolution of telecommunications, noting that systems improve over time to eliminate inefficiencies.
“There are loopholes, but they can be fixed. The authorities need to ensure that only legitimate users access the port. Those benefiting from the old disorder will resist changes, because their profits come from chaos. But the system must be strengthened and preserved,” he added.
He argued that the delay in renewing the Eto concession comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s trade and economic growth.
“Eto represent a major step forward, combining technology, regulatory enforcement, and stakeholder coordination to streamline operations, and any disruption due to a lapse in concession renewal could reverse years of progress” he said.
Ogungbemi further emphasized the need for continuous improvement and monitoring. “No system is perfect, but with proper oversight and technology-driven adjustments, Eto can continue to bring order. The authorities must act quickly to renew the concession and protect the investments of all stakeholders in the port ecosystem,” he said.
