Electronic Call-Up System Delivers Sanity to Ports, AMTO Declares Confidence in Gridlock Solution

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has strongly endorsed the electronic call-up system, known as “Eto,” introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), asserting its effectiveness in significantly tackling the perennial gridlock that plagued the Apapa and Tin-Can port access roads. This vote of confidence comes amidst ongoing efforts to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of port operations in Lagos.

During a peaceful rally held in Apapa, the Secretary-General of AMATO, Mr. Mohammed Sani Bala, lauded the NPA for initiating the system, which he described as a “game-changer” and a “landmark achievement” in Nigeria’s maritime logistics history. He highlighted the profound impact of Eto in eliminating gridlock and improving traffic flow, leading to seamless evacuation of import and export cargoes.

“On behalf of the trucking community, we wish to use this peaceful rally to express our profound gratitude to the management of NPA for the deployment of the Eto Call-Up System,” Sani Bala stated. He also extended appreciation to the Lagos State Government for its vital role in enforcing compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that underpin the system.

According to AMATO, the Eto system has ushered in a new era of automation, transparency, and efficiency in port access and truck scheduling. Truckers can now book port access slots remotely and affordably from anywhere, eliminating the need to physically queue for days or engage with “road cabals” who previously charged between N250,000 and N300,000 for uncertain access tags. The Eto system now facilitates this process at a flat rate of N21,500, effectively stamping out extortion and exploitation prevalent in the manual era.

“Gridlock has eased, and sanity has returned to our roads, and truckers no longer sleep in vehicles or die behind the wheel from exhaustion,” Sani Bala affirmed. “Port corridors are now more fluid, and the environment is more hospitable. Import and export cargoes are evacuated seamlessly, while businesses now operate on schedule. Apapa, once a ghost town, is vibrant again, with rising property values and restored community life.” He also noted that children can now safely attend school without being stranded in traffic, underscoring the transformational impact of the reform.

Sani Bala also took a swipe at recent campaigns of calumny against the call-up system, suggesting that those behind such efforts aim to revert to a time when truckers were extorted and exploited. He urged all members of the trucking community to remain vigilant, emphasizing that the call-up automation is here to stay and must be protected from attempts to undermine the progress it represents. “The manual call-up system is dead and buried, and any nostalgia for that era must give way to the reality of sustainable, tech-driven port logistics,” he asserted.

The Association of Maritime Truck Drivers (AMATO) also acknowledged that while the Eto system was initially introduced at a modest fee of N10,250, a black market has since emerged where call-up slots are resold for between N120,000 and N130,000, highlighting the need to clamp down on corruption within the process. However, despite these challenges, the overwhelming sentiment from AMATO and other stakeholders is that the electronic call-up system remains the most viable solution to port gridlock and must be sustained and improved upon.