NAGAFF Urges FG to Sustain Maritime Service Standards, Commends TTP for Decongesting Ports
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Federal Government to demonstrate strong political will in sustaining service standards in the maritime sector, adding that recent gains in port efficiency must not be allowed to slip.
The call was made in Lagos on Thursday during an assessment of traffic flow along the Apapa and Tin Can Island port corridors, a once-notorious axis that had crippled port operations and weakened Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
NAGAFF President, Tochukwu Ezisi, represented by the association’s Secretary General, Sir Godfrey Emeka Nwosu lauded the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Truck Transit Parks Ltd (TTP) for their decisive interventions in easing the gridlock that plagued the Lagos port environment for years.
NAGAFF recollected that before the introduction of the Eto electronic call-up system by TTP, the port corridors were virtually impassable, stressing that businesses were forced to shut down or relocate, property values in Apapa plummeted, and government revenues declined as cargo clearance became a nightmare.
The deployment of Eto has been a game changer, according to the association, noting that in the past 49 months, the system has processed about 2.7 million truck movements, ensuring orderly scheduling of cargo evacuation and reducing human interference that once bred corruption and inefficiency.
This intervention, NAGAFF noted, has led to a 65 percent reduction in cargo transport costs and a dramatic improvement in truck turnaround time from 2–3 weeks previously to less than three days.
Ezisi stressed that the achievements recorded so far demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity to develop homegrown solutions to deep-rooted logistical challenges.
“TTP, as an indigenous service provider, has proven that Nigerian companies have what it takes to deliver world-class services in critical sectors. Their work has not only restored order to the ports but also boosted trade efficiency, reduced costs, and improved the business environment,” he said.
The NAGAFF President called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to sustain monitoring mechanisms and enforce compliance with global best practices in the maritime industry.
He, however, warned that without consistent political will, entrenched interests could derail the progress made so far.
NAGAFF further urged stakeholders to see the port reforms as a foundation for deeper transformation. According to the group, sustaining service standards at Nigerian ports will attract greater investment, improve revenue generation, and position the country as a competitive maritime hub in West Africa.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the government, the NPA, and service providers like TTP to ensure that Nigeria’s ports remain efficient, transparent, and globally competitive.