LAGOS – The crippling traffic gridlock has returned to Apapa, Nigeria’s premier port city, following the collapse of the electronic call-up (e-Call-Up) system designed to manage truck movement.
The system failure has led to complete chaos, with hundreds of container-laden trucks blocking major highways and access roads. The resulting standstill has severely hampered economic activities around the vital port area, causing significant delays in cargo movement and goods delivery.
The e-Call-Up system, known as ‘Eto,’ was implemented by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to digitally schedule and control truck access to the ports. Its technical failure has allowed trucks to flood the area without regulation, completely overwhelming the road network.
Commuters and residents are facing extreme hardship, with some journeys through Apapa now taking several hours. Business owners in the area report massive losses as both employees and customers struggle to access their premises.
At the time of reporting, the NPA had not issued an official statement on the system failure or provided a timeline for its restoration. The return of the notorious gridlock has raised serious concerns about the sustainability of the digital solution meant to permanently solve Apapa’s traffic crisis.
