The session took place at the Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, and was sponsored by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu and his management team, in collaboration with TTP.

The initiative was secured through the efforts of the Leadership of the Joint Association for Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders, the Apapa Command.

Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed gratitude to TTP for the training and urged customs agents to take full advantage of the knowledge gained.

“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu stated.

Also speaking, Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, chairman of the Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), emphasized the urgent need to curb inflated transportation costs and improve ease of doing business at the Apapa Port.

“The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò Call-up System through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port,” Chukwumalu said.

A cross-section of participants praised the training for providing much-needed clarity on the Ètò system. Many expressed appreciation to the Customs Command, JALCAFF and TTP for organizing the session, noting that they now feel more empowered to handle their bookings directly and avoid being exploited by third parties.

“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves,” one participant shared. “We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters,” another added.

Addressing participants, Mr Irabor Akonoman, the head of Operations at TTP, debunked misinformation circulating among stakeholders regarding the pricing of Ètò tickets.

“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers. This training is about empowering you with practical knowledge of the booking procedures,” Akonoman said.

“When transporters do bookings themselves, they will have visibility over where their trucks are, how long they have been in the system, and ensure full transparency in their operations. Licensed agents are essential gatekeepers in improving logistics efficiency at our ports.” Akonoman added.

On his part, the Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Apapa Chapter, Mr Eze Uchendu, called for more open-mindedness on the part of agents to learn how to use the system and also accountability from terminal operators, to process trucks faster and more efficiently.

The training marks a strong step forward in reforming port access procedures, enhancing transparency, and restoring confidence in Apapa and Tincan Port operations.

TTP reaffirmed its commitment to continuous stakeholder engagement and collaborative efforts to strengthen the Ètò system for the benefit of all port users.

Nancy Nnamdi, Corporate Communications Manager, TTP, said in an email to Techeconomy that the clarification was necessary to correct some impressions created by recent media reports regarding protests at the Lagos ports by truck drivers.

“We would like to address recent media reports regarding protests by truck drivers at Lagos ports and the alleged call by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) for the scrapping of the Eto call-up system.

“The information in the reports is inaccurate, and we seek to provide clarity on the matter”.

Nnamani confirmed in an email to Techeconomy that contrary to the reports, NAGAFF did not call for the scrapping of Eto.

“The individual making such a statement was expressing personal views and not representing the official position of NAGAFF. The agitation against Eto appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the system’s operational procedures.

“It is crucial to correct the misinformation that truck booking was suspended for one month. The booking of trucks to parks was temporarily put on hold for about seven days, as directed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), to facilitate the rapid decongestion of trucks causing gridlocks along the port corridor and efficiently release/decongest the trucks waiting in the parks and pregates to access the ports. This decision was communicated to relevant stakeholders, including truck drivers and transporters.

“Additionally, the claim that Truck Transit Parks (TTP) gives NPA 10% of monthly returns is entirely false”.

Nnamdi added that the electronic callup system deployed for Apapa and Tincan ports by TTP is monitored and regulated by the Nigerian Ports Authority and such misinformation can lead to misinterpretation of the dynamics involved.

“The Eto system, owned and managed by TTP, has consistently contributed to operational efficiency at the ports. It has played a vital role and collaborated with the NPA in the development, review, and update of standard operating procedures that has improved the process and turnaround time for cargo evacuation at the port, truck routing, and mapping of truck parks to destinations/terminals in the port. Over the past 34 months, Ètò has processed about 1.7 million truck entry/exits of port and non-port-bound trucks, significantly reducing traffic gridlock challenges along the Apapa and Tincan port corridor.

“The recent challenges causing gridlock along the port access roads are attributed to the transferability and interchangeability of tickets and truck profiles among truckers, truck diversion along the port corridor in search for a second-leg job, trucks crisscrossing between terminals within the ports, inefficiency of terminals and low number of trucks admitted and serviced daily, as well as park operators colluding with truckers to left-pregate trucks by proxy.

“As variously communicated to all stakeholders, TTP has developed robust digital solutions to these challenges and now await approval from NPA to deploy them.

“Truckers are urged to exercise patience as TTP and NPA work collaboratively to address these challenges promptly. The Eto app is functioning as designed, and the measures in place aim to ensure sanity and ease of movement within the port premises”, the statement reads.