The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has applauded the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Truck Transit Parks Limited (TTP) for their role in easing traffic congestion around the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors which hitherto affected port operations and nightmare for it's users.
The President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, stated that the digital traffic management system introduced by TTP under the supervision of the NPA has transformed cargo movement in and around Nigeria’s busiest ports of Apapa and TinCan ports.
Speaking through the National General Secretary of NAGAFF, Fowdr. Godfrey Emeka Nwosu, at a press briefing held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, the President recalled the “harrowing experiences” of port operators before the introduction of TTP’s Eto traffic management system, when gridlock around the Lagos ports crippled business activities, forced companies to shut down or relocate, and forced down the values of properties in the area.
In his words, “Thanks to the ingenuity of the NPA and the former Ministry of Transportation, a strategic decision was made to engage the services of TTP. In less than two years, the once intractable gridlock started to ease, and port operators breathed a sigh of relief".
He stated that findings from NAGAFF Cargo Watch confirmed that traffic management reforms have significantly reduced costs and delays; disclosing that TTP has successfully processed about 2.7M truck movements in the last 49 months, resulting in a 65% reduction in cargo transportation costs.
Truck turnaround time has also dropped from 2–3 weeks in the pre-Eto era to less than three days, while cargo evacuation has improved from fewer than 50 trucks daily to more than 400 trucks, particularly benefiting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and oil and gas sectors.
Ezisi further noted that the reforms have boosted export trade by eliminating unnecessary delays, which previously compelled foreign buyers to demand performance bonds from Nigerian exporters. Real estate in Apapa has also rebounded, with property values appreciating in recent years.
He revealed that the Eto technology has created 225 direct jobs and empowered over 500 ancillary workers within the port environment.
While applauding the achievements of the NPA, TTP, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Ezisi curtioned government saying, “The government must develop the political will to monitor and ensure that the standards set by service providers like TTP are maintained. Globally, modern ports are moving towards efficient service delivery to reduce costs and delays. Nigeria must not fall behind,” Ezisi stated.
He described TTP as a model of indigenous innovation, stressing that the company has proven Nigeria’s capacity to solve long-standing logistics challenges and therefore deserves continued support and encouragement.
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