By Tochukwu Ezisi
It is my singular honor to welcome you all to this significant event. I am truly impressed by your enthusiastic response to our invitation.
We have invited you here today in line with the NAGAFF tradition of routinely evaluating the performance and impact of service providers in the transport logistics sub-sector of our economy. Today, our focus is on assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Truck Transit Parks Ltd (TTP) in managing traffic flow in and around the port corridors.
We vividly recall — and with some nostalgia — the harrowing experiences endured by port operators prior to the arrival of TTP. During that time, business activities were nearly crippled. Many companies were forced to shut down operations and relocate from Apapa, and in many cases, from Lagos entirely. Property and real estate values plummeted. Both the federal and state governments suffered significant revenue losses. Several traffic decongestion task forces and measures were implemented, but the problems persisted.
However, thanks to the ingenuity of the NPA and the former Ministry of Transportation, a strategic decision was made to engage the services of TTP. In less than two years, the positive impact of their digital traffic management operations began to manifest. The once intractable traffic gridlock started to ease, and port operators breathed a sigh of relief.
Within the period under review, the NAGAFF Cargo Watch, eye witness account can authoritatively report the positive outcomes of improved traffic management in the Apapa and Tin-Can Island port corridors. This is a direct result of the federal government’s traffic management reform policy, aimed at facilitating the smooth flow of freight and logistics operations.
We are reliably informed that TTP Ltd has successfully processed approximately 2.7 million port-bound and non-port-bound truck movements through the Eto traffic management system. Over the past 49 months, under the supervision of the NPA, TTP Ltd has contributed to a 65% reduction in the cost of transporting cargo to and from the Lagos ports. The typical turnaround time for trucks entering and exiting Apapa and Tin Can ports has reduced drastically from 2–3 weeks to less than 3days.
Significant improvements have also been recorded in cargo evacuation from both Apapa and Tin Can — two of Nigeria’s major industrial centers. Whereas fewer than 50 trucks could be evacuated daily in the pre-Eto era, the FMCG and Oil & Gas industries can now evacuate over 400 trucks per day.
Furthermore, TTP’s operations have had a profound impact on trade facilitation. Delays in the movement of export goods have been drastically reduced. Nigerian exporters are no longer required by overseas buyers to provide performance bonds during sales contracts. Export containers from the hinterlands are now arriving at the ports in a more timely and predictable manner.
In the real estate sector, property values in Apapa have appreciated significantly. According to our research, the Eto technology has directly created around 225 jobs, and empowered over 500 ancillary workers within the port environment.
In view of these notable milestones achieved by the NPA, TTP Ltd, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we, as stakeholders, acknowledge that more still needs to be done. We urge the relevant authorities to make concerted efforts to sustain and consolidate on these achievements. The old tradition of failing to build upon progress should be discarded.
The government must develop the political will to monitor and ensure that the standards set by service providers like TTP are maintained. Globally, modern ports are developing and tilting towards efficient and effective service delivery to port users to reduce port cost and excessive delays.
This feat is quite encouraging and also the more reason TTP, an indigenous service provider that has proven Nigeria’s capacity to solve long-standing logistical challenges, deserves continued support and encouragement.
Once again, we sincerely thank you for honoring our invitation. We look forward to more robust engagements in the near future.
Thank you.
*Being excerpts of a press statement by the National President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi in Lagos….recently.
