A technology-focused mobility firm has urged West African nations to modernize their cross-border transportation networks after documenting widespread inefficiencies during an extensive research journey through the region.
Jama Onwubuariri, who co-founded and leads Trucks Transit Parks Limited, spent four weeks traveling 6,000 kilometers from Lagos through the Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Liberia. His assessment uncovered persistent obstacles that slow commerce along one of the continent's most heavily used trade corridors. The evaluation revealed insufficient parking areas for commercial vehicles, forcing operators to use hazardous, informal roadside locations. Border stations continue relying on paper-based processing systems despite regional commitments to joint modernization efforts. Major ports in Lome, Tema and Abidjan lack electronic scheduling systems, creating severe congestion and expensive holdups.
The company proposes its Ètò platform as a remedy for these regional bottlenecks. The system offers digital scheduling capabilities, parking coordination and cross-border payment processing through a multi-currency wallet. Onwubuariri emphasized that the seamless movement of goods strengthens economic competitiveness across member states. The firm is working with ECOWAS organizations, customs agencies and transport departments to launch demonstration projects showcasing how digitization can accelerate clearance procedures, enhance driver security and support continental free trade objectives.
Jama Onwubuariri, who co-founded and leads Trucks Transit Parks Limited, spent four weeks traveling 6,000 kilometers from Lagos through the Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Liberia. His assessment uncovered persistent obstacles that slow commerce along one of the continent's most heavily used trade corridors. The evaluation revealed insufficient parking areas for commercial vehicles, forcing operators to use hazardous, informal roadside locations. Border stations continue relying on paper-based processing systems despite regional commitments to joint modernization efforts. Major ports in Lome, Tema and Abidjan lack electronic scheduling systems, creating severe congestion and expensive holdups.
The company proposes its Ètò platform as a remedy for these regional bottlenecks. The system offers digital scheduling capabilities, parking coordination and cross-border payment processing through a multi-currency wallet. Onwubuariri emphasized that the seamless movement of goods strengthens economic competitiveness across member states. The firm is working with ECOWAS organizations, customs agencies and transport departments to launch demonstration projects showcasing how digitization can accelerate clearance procedures, enhance driver security and support continental free trade objectives.
