The Eto digital truck call-up system, introduced to manage traffic around the Apapa ports, can be replicated across Nigeria’s industrial zones, inland dry ports, and cross-border transport routes if backed by strong political will and stakeholder cooperation, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Abimbola Oladeinde, has said.

Speaking on the impact of the platform, Oladeinde, who oversaw the rollout of the initiative, said the success recorded in Apapa showed that structured digital traffic management could work beyond Lagos, provided there is consistency in policy, enforcement and infrastructure support.

He noted that the model offers a practical template for improving logistics efficiency nationwide.

Oladeinde said: “Eto was not just about traffic control. It marked a shift in how logistics can be managed using technology. What we achieved in Apapa can work in industrial zones, inland ports and other logistics corridors if the right structures are in place.”

He explained that the system replaced manual and informal truck movement with a digital booking platform that allows operators to schedule port access in advance, as each booking generates a secured call-up that regulates entry and reduces human interference.

According to him, the impact became visible within months of implementation, with improved traffic flow and reduced congestion along major access routes.

He noted that compliance among registered truck operators rose significantly, helping to stabilise port operations and reduce delays.

Oladeinde added that the platform also helped reduce extortion and sharp practices that thrived under the old system, as automation limited human discretion in truck scheduling.

He said the platform’s data availability now allows authorities to monitor traffic patterns and plan more effectively.

The former commissioner, however, acknowledged that the system was not without challenges, highlighting attempts by some operators to bypass the process, limited holding bay capacity and poor access roads as issues that occasionally affected performance.

“Every new system faces resistance and operational challenges. What matters is the commitment to improve it. Lagos has shown that digital traffic management works, but it must be supported with infrastructure and consistent enforcement,” he explained.

He emphasised that the experience from Eto offers lessons for other states and logistics hubs seeking to improve efficiency, especially as trade volumes increase under regional and continental trade arrangements.