Trucks Transit Parks (TTP) is seeking regulatory clearance to launch a ₦200 million electronic tagging (e-tag) system intended to ease traffic snarls around Nigeria’s port corridors. The initiative, first unveiled by Managing Director Jama Onwubuariri at a Lagos-based thought-leadership event titled “From Leadership to Growth: Re-imagining Port Logistics in Nigeria” aims to digitally track truck movements and streamline cargo flow across the port ecosystem.
Since 2023, TTP has reportedly invested between ₦3.8 billion and ₦4.2 billion to develop its e-call-up platform and other port-traffic digitisation tools. However, according to Onwubuariri, the full potential of these investments can only be realised if key regulatory bodies such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the police grant formal approval and support.
Port congestion in Nigeria often stems from a mix of systemic and opportunistic problems: duplicate or falsified number plates, delayed Terminal Delivery Orders (TDOs), breakdown of vehicles, and trucks stalling in restricted zones even after enforcement orders. Onwubuariri argued that these issues, exacerbated by poor enforcement are among the root causes of the chronic gridlock at port entry points.
The proposed E-Tag system would issue each truck a unique, tamper-proof digital identity that remains constant throughout its operations. As Onwubuariri explained: “Each truck has a digital identity that does not change. 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.”
In addition to the e-tagging, TTP plans to integrate a digital cargo-assignment tool — the Eto Interchange Transaction Number (EITN) which permanently ties a given cargo to a specific truck. “Even if a shipper or agent gives contrary instructions, the system prevents terminals from handing the cargo to another vehicle,” Onwubuariri said. This, he argued, would curb cargo diversion and cargo fraud, while ensuring deliveries proceed via assigned trucks only.
Despite the readiness of the technology since 2023, regulatory endorsement remains pending. As a private company, TTP lacks the power to enforce compliance on terminal operators that authority lies with regulators. Onwubuariri urged the relevant agencies to back the deployment, arguing it would help create a “smart, coordinated, and seamless flow of traffic across the entire port transportation chain.”
With regulatory backing, TTP believes the digitised system can significantly cut down port fraud, ease congestion, and strengthen data integrity within Nigeria’s port logistics ecosystem. The company remains optimistic that its solution will enhance efficiency and pave the way for smoother port operations.
Port inefficiency in Nigeria has been shown to drive logistics costs up by as much as 40 per cent, inflating import and export costs, slowing trade and pushing up inflation. By cutting congestion and fraud, TTP’s e-tag infrastructure could lower costs, increase trade throughput, and boost revenue across the logistics chain.
