Amid renewed protests and mounting concerns over corruption, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector are at loggerheads over the continued use of the electronic call-up system introduced to manage truck traffic at Lagos seaports. While some port users, particularly truck owners and union leaders, are calling for the complete scrapping of the system, others argue that such demands are being pushed by vested interests aiming to restore the chaotic, unregulated system of the past.
The electronic call-up system—also known as Eto—was launched in 2021 by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in collaboration with Truck Transit Parks Limited (TTP) to curb congestion, reduce extortion, and streamline the movement of trucks in and out of Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports via a digital scheduling platform.
However, recent protests led by members of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) and the National Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP) have brought its shortcomings to the forefront. The protesters alleged that the system has failed to deliver on its promises and has instead become a tool of extortion and marginalisation for local transporters.
According to the demonstrators, local businesses are collapsing under the weight of illegal levies, security interference, and discriminatory practices that allegedly favour foreign logistics operators. “The e-call-up system has not helped us. Instead, the military and foreigners now control port logistics. The NPA has failed to monitor or reform the system. What we need is a transparent and inclusive approach,” one protest leader said during the demonstration in Lagos.
They accused the NPA of enabling extortion through lax oversight, resulting in illegal checkpoints and illicit payments along port access roads. These, they argue, are hurting the competitiveness and profitability of indigenous transporters and logistics providers.
The Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), through its Secretary General, Mr. Mohammed Sani, expressed concern that some individuals pushing for the dismantling of Eto are the same actors who profited under the former chaotic regime. Sani described the protests as “a deliberate attempt to sabotage the system and bring back manual corruption-prone processes.”
“The electronic call-up system has disrupted the illegal earnings of certain cabals who once thrived under a disorganised environment,” he said. “Their campaign is not about improving port operations; it is about regaining control for personal gain.”
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) echoed this sentiment. Speaking on behalf of the group, Clinton Ikechukwu Okoro, Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Island chapter, reaffirmed support for ongoing automation and said the association has been actively engaging the NPA and terminal operators to address flaws in the system.
“We recognize that there are issues, but the answer is not to return to the manual chaos that crippled port efficiency in the past,” Okoro stated. “We are in dialogue with stakeholders to improve the platform—not destroy it.”
Port logistics experts argue that scrapping the digital call-up platform could worsen traffic gridlock in Apapa and Tin Can and open the floodgates to previous abuses, including bribery, illegal parking, and container delay surcharges.
Despite the heated debate, most stakeholders agree on one thing: the need for urgent reform. COMTUA and NAMTOP have called for an independent audit of the system and a stakeholder-led review of its operational framework. Suggestions include the integration of real-time tracking tools, elimination of human interference at truck holding bays, and the establishment of a dedicated complaints redress mechanism.
Experts also suggest that the NPA must strengthen its regulatory oversight, enforce transparency, and curb the influence of security operatives and third-party agents who allegedly manipulate truck scheduling and access.
As Nigeria seeks to position itself as a maritime logistics hub in West Africa, the fate of the e-call-up system could determine the credibility of port reform efforts. Whether through overhaul or optimization, stakeholders insist that the goal must remain a transparent, corruption-free, and efficient port access regime that supports national economic growth.