The perennial gridlock in the Apapa area of Lagos occasioned by the indiscriminate parking of containers is one nagging problem that residents of Lagos have decried for years. Despite countless efforts by the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to address the menace, it has persisted for years with no relief in sight. But it appears that residents of Lagos will finally have a sigh of relief soon with the advent of the new technology called ETO – an electronic call-up system designed for scheduling the entry and exit of trucks and empty containers within the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports. This initiative by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is expected to bring some level of sanity to Apapa where the largest port in Nigeria is located.
Last Friday, the Nigerian Ports Authority announced the launching of Eto via an official statement on its Twitter page. According to the statement, the new technology is scheduled to begin operations on 27 February 2021.
The statement partly reads:https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1352730637766172679&lang=en&origin=safari-reader%3A%2F%2Ftalkaboutlagos.com%2Feto-npa-introduces-electronic-call-up-system-to-decongest-ports-what-this-means-for-lagos-residents%2F&theme=dark&widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&width=550px
“NPA TRUCK E-CALL TAKES OFF
“The Authority is pleased to announce the commencement of Eto, the Electronic Truck call-up system designed for the management of truck movement and access to and from the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports, Apapa, Lagos.
“All trucks doing business at the ports will be required to park at the approved truck parks until they are called up into the port through the Eto app.
“The Eto app will be responsible for the scheduling, entry & exit of all trucks into the ports with effect from 27th Feb. 2021
“Therefore, all transporters, trucks owners and truck drivers will be required to download the Eto App from Google play store or sign up at http://eto.ttp.com.ng before the commencement date to enable them register accordingly.
“Cargo owners should please note that empty containers can only be returned to the ports through the approved holding bays of shipping companies using the Eto Platform. It is the responsibility of the shipping company to move empty containers from their holding bay to the Port.
“The management of the Authority solicits the cooperation of transporters, truck drivers, cargo owners, clearing agents shipping companies and all port users in the implementation of the project, which will bring order and sanity to the ports access roads.”
The NPA also noted that failure by the relevant stakeholders to subscribe to Eto and comply with its guidelines will attract sanctions which will include the “denial of access into the ports, impounding of trucks and withdrawal of registration/operating license.”
The launching of Eto is, indeed, a welcome development. What this means for residents of Lagos is that;
1) In about a month’s time, Lagosians would most likely be going about their business without bothering about the dreaded Apapa gridlock caused by indiscriminate parking of trucks along the road if Eto is effectively implemented by the NPA – this is because traffic congestion could be brought to its barest minimum. In essence, the trepidation that comes with the nagging thought of arriving late to work or some other important function will be kept under check to some extent.
2) The success of the new technology could also reduce robbery incidents in traffic. Armed robbery is one of the most common social vices in Lagos and those who engage in the dastardly act often see traffic congestion as an opportunity to dispossess innocent and unsuspecting commuters of their valuables and in the worst-case scenario, some people lose their lives in the process.
Eto is, no doubt, a laudable initiative considering how beneficial it could be to residents of Lagos on different levels.