The Centralized Access, Zongo Parking and Zongo Hangar Project was developed by the Port Autonome de Cotonou to respond to a long-standing challenge affecting both the port and the city: unmanaged truck queues, congestion around the port area, road-safety risks, air pollution, and difficult waiting conditions for truck drivers.
The project provides an integrated and innovative response by combining a single secured port access point, a 13-hectare buffer parking facility, digital truck-flow management and the Zongo Hangar, a dedicated service facility for drivers. Its objective is not only to improve port access and logistics efficiency, but also to strengthen the port community by placing truck drivers at the centre of the solution.
The project demonstrates strong port leadership by linking major infrastructure modernization with social responsibility. It reflects the Port of Cotonou’s vision that a high-performing port must also be a human-centred port. The initiative contributes directly to SDGs 3, 8, 9, 11 and 13 through improved health and sanitary conditions, better working and waiting conditions, modernized infrastructure, reduced urban congestion and expected reductions in emissions linked to truck queues and idling.
Stakeholder engagement has been central to the project, including transport operators, truck drivers, public authorities, logistics actors and the City Council of Cotonou. The project has already delivered tangible results: the Zongo Parking Facility is completed, the Hangar Zongo has started operations, around 600 trucks are already accommodated in direct parking, and the main roadway is visibly less congested. Driver feedback is positive, confirming that the project responds to real needs from the port community.
By combining infrastructure, digitalization, stakeholder engagement and measurable early impact, the project offers a clear, replicable example of sustainable port-city integration.