Eto Proprietary Technology Ownership Speaks on the processes of the electronic call-up system

It will be recalled that last week Monday, drivers and transporters in Apapa area of Lagos, protested against extortion by Lagos State Traffic Management (LASTMA) Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), members of the Nigerian Police Force, and other organizations and law enforcement agencies.

Our correspondent met with one of the accused organizations, Trucks Transit Park Limited, the company in charge of Eto e-call up system.

Mr. Irabor Akonoman, Head of Operations, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. explained how the Eto app is designed to function, he said the app is for truckers who have businesses to conduct in the ports.

He said since the launching of the app, there has been to a large extent, free flow of transportation within Apapa axis, such that drivers do not get to spend weeks on the road while waiting to get to ports.

He said that, each truck usually has to pass through 2 sets of parks before entering the port, a facility park and a pre-gate, these parks are just holding bays. Eto is the scheduling system that is used to ensure that trucks get serviced on a first come, first serve basis, also dependent on what the person wants to do in the port. He said these parks are owned and managed by individuals and there is a cost for trucks to make use of these parks. Mr. Irabor also said there is an agreement between all the partners and stakeholders on how much should be paid for use of these facilities.

He said the total sum anyone will pay for a booking ticket via the Eto app, for any of the different categories is #21,500 inclusive of VAT. He stated that people who book for up to #40, 000 or #50,000 are not booking directly via the Eto app, they are most likely going through an agent or middle man who has then charged them extra to book. 

This is in no way TTP’s doings. No TTP staff is a transporter agent because we want to ensure transparency. We have also on different occasions provide trainings so truckers know how to book for themselves via the app. We will continue to carry out these sensitization and training so that truck owners can get the complete value of the electronic call-up system. 

Mr. Irabor said TTP has a 24-hr customer service center to help anyone who does not know how to make use of the app. He notes that the people going through agents are the ones who feel that they are being extorted through Eto. This is completely false, there is no extortion via the Eto system.

In terms of pockets of extortions that truck drivers face along the roads, we’re deeply troubled by that and that is why we are in constant discussion with the NPA. LASG and other relevant stakeholders on measures that need to be adopted to rid the roads of these extortion points. It’s important to note that while TTP manages the technology, there’s very little that we can do in terms of the enforcement of tasks that have been assigned to other stakeholders that are involved in ensuring the seamless working of the call-up system.

He also mentioned that another factor causing extortion are some elements that used to benefit from traffic congestion before the launch of Eto, they still set up unauthorized checkpoints aimed at extorting truckers.

He then advised the transporters to take ownership of their truck not to use transports agents, that they want everybody to book their trucks and pay the standard amount.

As regards TTP’s relationship with the NPA, Akonoman said that they are the technical partners with NPA, the two organizations work together to ensure that truck traffic is managed efficiently and that access into the ports is seamless.

TTP frowns against ticket racketeering and extortion, reason they want every transporter to make use of the app and take ownership of their truck bookings, he concluded.