Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP) has called for the urgent digitisation of trade and truck transport systems across the ECOWAS corridor to unlock the region's full economic potential.
The company's Co-Founder and Managing Director, Jama Onwubuariri, made the call following a 6,000 km road trip across six West African countries—Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Liberia.
The month-long assessment examined transport infrastructure, border operations, and the use of technology along the Lagos–Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridor, one of West Africa's busiest trade routes.
Findings revealed several bottlenecks, including inadequate truck parking facilities, poor rest stop infrastructure, manual border clearance processes, and the absence of digital call-up systems at key seaports such as Lome, Tema, and Abidjan.
Onwubuariri said the inefficiencies increase logistics costs, reduce trade competitiveness, and undermine regional integration goals.
"Regional trade can only thrive when goods and drivers move seamlessly. Inefficiencies at borders and ports raise costs for businesses and erode competitiveness," he said.
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As part of the solution, TTP is promoting its Ètò digital platform, designed for real-time truck scheduling, electronic call-up, digital parking management, and cross-border payments. The system, he said, could transform transport operations across the subregion.
Beyond logistics management, the Ètò platform also generates valuable data for government planning, infrastructure investment, and policy formulation.
TTP is currently engaging ECOWAS institutions, customs authorities, and transport ministries to establish pilot programmes showcasing the benefits of digitised transport and border systems.
If adopted, Onwubuariri said the initiative would reduce clearance delays, informal payments, and improve driver welfare—aligning with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He added, "ECOWAS has made progress in regional integration, but without technology, inefficiencies will persist. It's time to embrace digital systems and make West African trade truly seamless."
