The 2025 Container Port Performance Index has ranked the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and Tin Can Island Port among the world’s 20 most improved container ports, following the deployment of the Ètò Electronic Call-Up System.

The Managing Director and Co-founder of Truck Transit Park (TTP) Limited, Jama Onwubuariri, disclosed this in a statement issued by the company’s general manager, corporate and strategic communications, Nancy Nnamdi, on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to a report by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tin Can Island Port ranked 10th globally, while Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, ranked 12th for performance improvement recorded between 2020 and 2025.

Mr Onwubuariri described the ranking as a major turnaround for Nigeria’s busiest port corridors.

He recalled that before 2021, truck queues stretched from Apapa to Maryland and the Cele Expressway, with truckers spending weeks to gain access to the ports.

According to him, cargo movement costs rose by as much as 450 per cent during the period due to congestion, extortion, and operational inefficiencies, which increased the cost of doing business.

He said the TTP, in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), introduced the Ètò Electronic Call-Up System in February 2021 to digitise and coordinate truck access to the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors.

Mr Onwubuariri said the platform had since processed more than 3.5 million truck movements, restoring order and predictability to Lagos ports, which handle the bulk of Nigeria’s maritime trade and exports.

He explained that the average turnaround time for port access and cargo evacuation had declined to two days or less, while cargo logistics costs had fallen by an estimated 65 per cent since the system became fully operational.

According to him, data from the TTP showed that containerised export activity increased by 464 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

He added that the platform currently provides real-time visibility and access control across more than 120 logistics facilities.

He attributed the performance improvement to continuous upgrades to the Ètò platform, including export truck pre-clearance, streamlined booking processes, real-time truck tracking and advanced turnaround-time analytics.

The TTP boss said the company also introduced intelligent demand management and deeper integration with port stakeholders.

He emphasised that this had resulted in shorter waiting times, faster cargo evacuation and improved coordination across the logistics chain.

According to him, the World Bank ranking validates the impact of technology deployment and reforms implemented in the ports over the past five years.

“Five years ago, Apapa and Tin Can were global examples of the cost of inefficiency. Today, they are recognised among the world’s most improved container ports.

“This transformation is the result of bold reforms, collaboration across the port ecosystem and technology that has brought transparency, discipline and predictability to truck and cargo movement in Lagos.

“More efficient truck scheduling means faster cargo evacuation, improved terminal productivity, lower logistics costs and a more competitive maritime sector.  We are proud that Ètò played a central role,” he said.

Mr Onwubuariri said the TTP would continue to develop intelligent mobility solutions to address operational challenges within ports, along trade corridors and at border crossings across Africa.

He noted that the recognition highlighted the growing impact of digital innovation in the maritime sector.

According to him, it also underscores the need for sustained investment in technology-driven solutions to improve trade efficiency nationwide.

(NAN)