TTP Pushes for Digital Truck Identity System to End Number Plate Fraud in Nigerian Ports
Kathy Kyari
The Trucks Transit Parks (TTP) has renewed calls for stronger regulation and the deployment of digital identity technology for trucks to curb widespread number plate duplication across Nigerian ports.
TTP Managing Director, Mr. Jama Onwubuariri, made the appeal at a Thought Stakeholders Leadership Roundtable held at the L’Eola Hotel, Lagos, themed “From Gridlock to Growth: Re-Imagining Port Logistics in Nigeria.”
Onwubuariri identified number plate duplication as one of the most persistent challenges undermining port logistics, attributing it to the absence of a unified issuing authority. He noted that weak control systems have enabled drivers to clone plates, borrow identity numbers, or fabricate plates to gain unauthorized access to the Eto system.
To tackle this, he announced that TTP has developed an Electronic Truck Tagging System (E-TAC) — a permanent, tamper-proof digital identity attached to every truck on the platform. According to him, any attempt to alter the tag automatically invalidates a truck’s status on Eto, effectively preventing access fraud and identity swapping.
The MD said the company is currently awaiting regulatory approval for the full deployment of E-TAC, expressing confidence that its rollout will eliminate fraudulent number plate operations.
Onwubuariri also unveiled the ATO Interchange Transaction Number (AITN), designed to curb illegal cargo transfers between trucks within terminals. He urged LASTMA, the police, and security personnel of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to intensify enforcement to ensure only trucks with valid access orders move within port corridors.
In a goodwill message, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, represented by Director of Transport Operations, Mr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, commended TTP’s engagement for helping ease traffic in the Lagos metropolis. He expressed optimism that stronger partnerships and unified planning would transform Nigeria’s ports into globally competitive logistics hubs.
Chairman of the Ports Consultative Council of Nigeria (PCCN), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, represented by Vice Chairman Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN), called for urgent regulatory coordination to resolve overlapping regulations, manual processes, high cargo dwell time, and fragmented inter-agency operations. He emphasised the adoption of a functional Port Community System (PCS) as a key solution.
“Regulatory synergy is not merely administrative reform—it is the key to building a port system that supports national growth, creates jobs, and lowers business costs,” he said.
“We are urging stakeholders to commit to coordinated reforms, because Nigeria has the potential to move from congestion to efficiency and from untapped potential to tangible growth, positioning the country as a maritime hub in West Africa,” he added.
Representatives from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), including the Lagos Port Complex Manager’s delegate, Mr. Buka Kaomi, commended TTP for the successful rollout of the Electronic Tracking and Operations (ETO) system, noting that the NPA remains committed to adopting technologies that enhance port efficiency.
President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, welcomed the advancements, describing ETO as a necessary shift from analogue to digital operations. He said only those opposed to economic progress would resist such transformation.
Former Apapa Port Manager, Mrs. Bolanle Olotu, urged TTP to deepen its use of data analytics to improve decision-making and operational efficiency, stressing the need for all stakeholders to collaborate and uphold accountability.
The roundtable concluded with broad stakeholder support for TTP’s initiatives, with many agreeing that digital identification and stronger regulatory synergy are crucial to unlocking a more efficient port logistics ecosystem in Nigeria.
0 Comments