Relief For Importers As Haulage Costs Drop By 65% At Lagos Ports

Cargo haulage costs at the Tin Can Island and Apapa seaports in Lagos have dropped by 65.7 per cent, LEADERSHIP can report.

Findings show that the sharp decline is mainly due to the introduction of the electronic call-up system, Ètò, operated by Truck Transit Park Limited (TTP), which has significantly improved truck movement and access to the ports.

Maritime experts attributed the reduction in haulage charges to shorter waiting times, faster truck turnaround, and the dismantling of racketeering and illegal checkpoints along port access roads.

A cost comparison indicates that moving  a cargo from Apapa to Ikeja, which cost about N700,000 in December 2025, now goes for N240,000, while haulage from Apapa to Sango, Ogun State, has dropped from N800,000 to about N330,000.

Several companies, ranging from major importers to small business operators, have also reported reduced logistic costs and improved delivery predictability since adopting the Ètò platform.

Confirming the price drop, a haulage operator, Yusuf Liadi, said charges have fallen drastically in the last two weeks compared to December 2025.

“In December, we charged over N700, 000 from Apapa to Ikeja and more than N800,000 to Sango, Ogun State. Today, those routes go for about N240, 000 and N330,000 respectively,” Liadi said.

He attributed the reduction to quicker truck turnaround and limited waiting time at truck parks and marshalling yards.

Also corroborating the development, the managing director of TTP, Jama Onwubuariri, said the high level of compliance with the Ètò system has enabled trucks to move from their holding bays to port gates within 48 hours, with some gaining access in 12 to 18 hours.

According to him, the reduction in time spent on port access roads, coupled with the elimination of illegal toll collection points, has significantly lowered haulage costs.

“Before Ètò, the logistics value chain operated under a high-cost, high-risk system. Inefficiencies, gridlock, and multiple illegal charges inflated haulage prices. At the peak of congestion, moving a container could cost as much as N1.2 million,” Onwubuariri said.

He noted that truckers often spent several days in traffic, incurring illegal fees, while businesses suffered higher demurrage and revenue losses, costs that were eventually passed on to consumers.

“Since TTP launched Ètò in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State government, haulage prices have consistently dropped by 50 to 65 per cent, depending on the route and operator,” he added.

Onwubuariri explained that turnaround time is now driven by technology, digital compliance, and scheduling integrity rather than informal payments.

“Ètò has brought structure, visibility, and efficiency into port access logistics. The transformation is visible, and data-driven tracking now allows for transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement,” he said.