Global finance institution's assessment validates improvements at Apapa and Tincan seaports

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The Truck Transit Park Limited, manager of the Electronic Call-up System code-named ‘Ètò’, introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority to facilitate the easy movement of trucks in and out of the ports, has stated that the latest World Bank ranking of the Apapa and Tincan Island ports validates what stakeholders have experienced on the ground since the introduction of Ètò.

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According to a statement obtained by The PUNCH, the Managing Director and Co-founder of TTP Limited, Jama Onwubuariri, stated this while reacting to the recent World Bank ranking.

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Reports indicate that the 2025 Container Port Performance Index, published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, recognised Nigeria’s Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) and Tincan Island Port among the world’s 20 most improved container ports over the last five years.

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Within the global improvement rankings, Tincan Island Port placed 10th, while Lagos Port Complex (Apapa) ranked 12th, recording some of the strongest performance gains among container ports worldwide between 2020 and 2025.

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TTP stressed that the recognition reflects a remarkable turnaround in the operational performance of Nigeria’s busiest port corridors.

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“Before 2021, truck queues stretched from Apapa through Maryland and the Cele Expressway; truckers often waited two to three weeks to access the ports, and cargo movement costs rose by as much as 450 per cent due to congestion and inefficiencies. In February 2021, TTP Limited, in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority, introduced the Ètò Electronic Call-Up System to digitise and coordinate truck access into the Apapa and Tincan port corridors,” the statement read in part.

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The firm added that since the introduction of Ètò in 2021, the platform has processed more than 3.5 million truck movements, helping to restore order and predictability to one of Africa’s busiest trade gateways.

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TTP added that the average turnaround time for port access and cargo evacuation has fallen to two days or less: “Cargo logistics costs have reduced by an estimated 65 per cent, and containerised export activity increased 464 per cent between 2020 and 2021. Today, the platform provides real-time visibility and access control across more than 120 facilities within the Lagos port ecosystem and has maintained 100 per cent uptime since launch.”

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TTP attributed a significant portion of the ports’ improved performance to the continuous evolution of the Ètò platform.

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The firm highlighted that over the last five years, enhancements such as export truck pre-clearance, streamlined booking workflows, real-time truck tracking, advanced turnaround-time analytics, intelligent demand management, and deeper integration with port stakeholders have reduced waiting times, improved cargo evacuation, enhanced visibility, and strengthened coordination across the logistics chain.

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“Together, these improvements have helped create a more efficient and resilient port ecosystem, contributing to the operational gains reflected in the World Bank’s rankings,” it added.

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Meanwhile, commenting on the ranking, the Managing Director and Co-founder of TTP Limited, Jama Onwubuariri, explained that five years ago, Apapa and Tincan were global examples of the cost of inefficiency.

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“Today, they are being recognised among the world’s most improved container ports. That transformation did not happen by chance. It is the result of bold reforms, collaboration across the port ecosystem, and the deployment of technology that has brought transparency, discipline, and predictability to truck and cargo movement. The World Bank ranking validates what stakeholders have experienced on the ground since the introduction of Ètò. 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 has played a central role in that journey. As we look ahead, we will continue to innovate and develop intelligent mobility solutions that solve operational challenges not only within ports, but also across trade corridors and border crossings throughout Africa,” Jama added.

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He highlighted that the latest World Bank recognition reinforces the growing impact of digital innovation in Nigeria’s maritime sector and underscores the importance of sustained investment in technology-driven solutions that improve trade efficiency, reduce logistics bottlenecks, and strengthen national competitiveness.

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“For TTP, it also underscores the opportunity to apply lessons learned from the Ètò transformation to other mobility and trade challenges across Africa’s ports, logistics corridors, and border ecosystems,” he added.

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TTP Limited is a Nigerian technology and infrastructure company developing intelligent mobility solutions for ports, logistics corridors, and border ecosystems. Through its flagship Ètò Electronic Call-Up System and related mobility infrastructure, TTP helps governments and private-sector operators improve traffic management, access control, operational efficiency, and trade facilitation across complex logistics environments.

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