Collaborating For Efficiency: Freight Forwarders Take Centre Stage In Ètò Call-Up Reform

Collaborating For Efficiency: Freight Forwarders Take Centre Stage In Ètò Call-Up Reform

Chief Sir Patrick Ogbo, Maritime Consultant/Logistics Expert

By Chief Sir Patrick Ogbo
Maritime Consultant/Logistics Expert

When the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) introduced the Ètò electronic call-up system in February 2021, few imagined how dramatically it would change the face of port operations in Lagos. For decades, the access roads to Apapa and Tincan Island ports were synonymous with chaos: endless queues of trucks, paralysing gridlock, spiralling demurrage, and a ripple effect that hobbled Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

Fast-forward four years, and Ètò — managed by Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) — has recorded a landmark feat: over three million trucks orderly processed through the system, bringing an end to the traffic nightmare that once defined the port corridors. But while this success is widely acknowledged, stakeholders say the reforms are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible.

Freight Forwarders Enter the Equation

One of the most significant shifts has been the formal engagement of freight forwarders in the Ètò ecosystem. Traditionally, freight forwarders bore the brunt of port inefficiencies: they were saddled with delays, forced to navigate middlemen, and often incurred hefty demurrage from prolonged container dwell times.

Today, thanks to targeted sensitization and training campaigns by TTP, freight forwarders can now directly process call-ups, assign trucks, and monitor movements on the Ètò platform. This hands-on role has created ripple effects across the logistics chain: reduced racketeering, lower haulage costs, improved compliance, and a system where accountability is no longer optional but embedded.

“It’s a game-changer,” one freight forwarder noted. “For the first time, we are in control of our own bookings, without depending on third parties who used to exploit the system.”

The Next Leap: Mandatory Validation

Yet, the reform train is still moving. Conversations are ongoing about introducing a mandatory validation step, requiring freight forwarders to sign off on bookings before a truck ticket is matched for pickup. This, advocates argue, will eliminate unauthorized interference, ensure transparency at every stage, and give freight forwarders final oversight over their consignments.

If approved by NPA, this measure would represent another structural shift — embedding freight forwarders at the heart of the system, not as passive players but as co-architects of efficiency.

Tech Upgrades: RFID and e-Tags on the Horizon

Even more transformative is the next technology upgrade: the deployment of electronic tags (e-Tags) and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. With these, every truck entering or exiting the ports will be digitally tagged, enabling real-time tracking from origin to destination.

This end-to-end visibility, stakeholders argue, will drastically reduce human interference, cut down revenue leakages, and bring Nigeria closer to global “Just-In-Time” (JIT) logistics standards. For a country eager to boost its Ease of Doing Business ranking and trade competitiveness, the implications are enormous.

Leadership and Stakeholder Confidence

Central to these reforms is the leadership of NPA’s current Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho. Known for his responsiveness and administrative acumen, Dr. Dantsoho has won the confidence of industry players by backing technology-driven solutions and pushing reforms that align Nigeria’s ports with international best practices.

Stakeholders remain optimistic that his administration will continue to endorse innovations like e-Tags, which not only improve traffic flow but also strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub.

Toward a Modern Logistics Ecosystem

The Ètò system’s success story is more than a tale of digital transformation; it is a case study in collaboration. By bringing freight forwarders to the table, strengthening oversight mechanisms, and preparing for RFID-driven transparency, Nigeria is gradually rewriting the narrative of its ports.

What was once a symbol of inefficiency is steadily evolving into a logistics ecosystem built on accountability, orderliness, and technology. The journey is far from over, but with continued collaboration and regulatory support, Ètò may well become the benchmark for how Africa can modernize port operations in the digital age.