Esther Oluku 

Cofounder and Managing Director, Trucks Transit Parks (TTP), Jama Onwubuariri, has called for stronger regulatory collaboration and approval to fully deploy the company’s N200 million electronic tagging (e-tag) system, a digital solution aimed at improving truck movement to ease traffic congestion around Nigeria’s ports corridor. 

Speaking with journalist on the sidelines of a Thought Leadership Session hosted by TTP in Lagos yesterday, themed, ‘From Leadership to Growth: Re-imagining Port Logistics in Nigeria,’ Onwubuariri said that regulatory support will help the company in deploying this solutions to sustain a smart, coordinated, and seamless flow of traffic across the entire port transportation chain.

According to him, since 2023, the company has invested a total of between N3.8 billion to N4.2 billion to build the e-call up system and other port traffic digitisation systems but can only deliver maximum impact with the active support of relevant regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Police amongst others.

While identifying some of the causes of port traffic congestion to include; number plate duplication, exchange, and falsification, delayed Terminal Delivery Orders (TDOs), mechanical breakdowns, and physical queue blockages caused by stalling trucks, he stated that some drivers deliberately remain in restricted areas to secure business opportunities, even after enforcement teams instruct them to leave.

He noted that the Electronic Tagging (E-Tag) System provides a tamper-proof digital identity to trucks putting an end to cases of plate number duplication.

“Each truck has a digital identity that does not change,” he said. “Once the tag is removed, that identity becomes invalid, and the truck cannot operate on the system. This eliminates the use of fake or borrowed number plates.”

Complementing the E-Tag is the Eto Interchange Transaction Number (EITN), a digital solution designed to stop cargo diversion by ensuring terminals service only the trucks originally assigned to specific cargo.

“Under the EITN, each cargo is tied unchangeably to a particular truck,” Onwubuariri said. “Even if a shipper or agent gives contrary instructions, the system prevents terminals from handing the cargo to another vehicle.”

He explained that although the e-tag solution has been ready since 2023, TTP is still awaiting regulatory approval for its deployment as enforcement remains in the domain of regulators.

“As a private operator, we cannot compel terminal operators to comply. That responsibility lies with Nigerian Ports Authority and other regulators,” he said.

He expressed optimism that with regulatory support, TTP’s digital solutions will significantly curb fraud, eliminate congestion, and strengthen the data integrity of Nigeria’s port logistics ecosystem.