Trucks Transit Parks eyes regional integration for seamless logistics under AfCFTA
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Jama Onwubariri, Managing Director of Trucks Transit Parks has said that the company is prioritising regional integration to facilitate seamless logistics under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Onwubariri who made this known while reeling out the company’s achievements in transforming Nigeria’s ports logistics to journalists in a press conference at Lilypond Container Terminal in Lagos on Wednesday, said the initiative is part of TTP’s threefold focus, with a key objective being to position itself as a trusted partner to West African governments in harmonizing logistics operations.
“Looking forward, our focus is threefold: Deepening efficiency at Nigerian Ports – through continuous technology and infrastructure upgrades, smarter data use, and stronger enforcement collaboration, and expanding its Technology Footprint – with E-tags, RFID, and AI-driven compliance systems that will improve traffic control, security, and safety standards. This roadmap is ambitious, but it is necessary if Nigeria is to remain competitive and if West Africa is to unlock its full trade potential. We will achieve it!,” he said.
The managing director said, the maritime and logistics industry is the backbone of commerce in Nigeria, stating that 90% of the items we need daily rely on imports delivered through its ports. “Every single day, about 2,000 trucks move through Lagos ports and industrial corridors to pick up and drop off consumer and export cargo. But for over a decade leading up to 2021, this critical artery of trade has been clogged by problems of; Perennial congestion on the access roads, Inefficient cargo evacuation, Safety lapses, bad roads and substandard trucks, Racketeering and middlemen distorting pricing and processes, Human interference in what should be seamless, technology-driven operations.”
He said these inefficiencies come at a heavy price.”They increase turnaround time for trucks and cargo, inflate logistic costs, and ultimately hike the prices consumers pay for essential goods. It was against this backdrop that Trucks Transit Parks (TTP) introduced the Ètò electronic call-up system in 2021. Our vision was simple: to transparently combine innovative technology, infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration to solve a problem that had become almost ‘normalised’,”
But the company, he said, has changed the narrative through Étó electronic system, “Port roads, once infamous for unending gridlock, are now more orderly and predictable. Access to the ports is no longer based on who you know or how rugged your boys are, but on a pre-set, transparent, technology-enabled process.”
Onwubariri disclosed that over 3 million truck trips successfully scheduled through Ètò since inception, “Drastic reduction in gridlock and improved truck and cargo turnaround time, Enhanced compliance with Minimum Safety Standards for trucks, Introduction of smarter payment platforms to improve the ease of payments for bookings, Ongoing partnerships with the Nigerian Ports Authority, terminal operators, security agencies, unions, and associations to sustain progress, Continuous upgrades to the Ètò platform—closing loopholes, tightening controls, and enhancing user experience.”
He noted that, this is not just about technology; ”It is about restoring confidence in the possibility that our ports can be efficient and compete favourably with others in the region.”
Onwubariri said the achievements is a show that good things can come out from Nazareth. “Most times, when people talk about technology. We talk about China ana America. But Local problems should have local solutions. We examined what others countries have done in US, Europe etc we try to apply it here and we discovered that there is a very wide gap.”
Adding, Olaoluwa Olorunda said before Étó tech system ie pre-2021, Truckers waited 2–3 weeks to access Lagos ports, Only 50 trucks evacuated daily out of 1,600 in chaos, Nigeria’s maritime sector lost ₦2.5 trillion annually due to inefficiencies, Cargo costs surged 450%.
“But after: 2021-2025, Eto has reduced the issue of stolen ticket, and ticket expiration to 0.5. 3 million truck movements processed in 54 months, 65% reduction in logistics cost, 2–3 days turnaround time, down from weeks., 225 direct jobs and 700 indirect jobs created, 170 new features deployed to enhance transparency and customer experience, 400+ trucks daily throughput achieved (up from 40 trucks/day), $1.7 million annual savings for maritime industry. It contributed to Nigeria’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) improvement. Integration with CBN’s NXP system to streamline exports and has Strengthened collaboration with key stakeholders including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos State Government, terminal operators, unions, and security agencies.”
Present at the press briefing were; the managing director, Jama Onwubariri, Head of Operations, Irabor Akonoman, Head of Corp Development, Richard Emenim, and Olaoluwa Olorunda, GM ICT, (Tentative), Nneka Enebeli, Head of Customer Service.
