By Abbas Nazil
Maritime transporters under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Eastern Zone, have vehemently opposed the introduction of the electronic call-up truck system at Onne Port and other ports in Nigeria’s Eastern region.
During an emergency meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and attended by over 700 union members, the transporters condemned the move, warning that it could severely disrupt port operations and worsen the economic realities of stakeholders in the region.
The union argued that the e-call up system, which was previously implemented at Lagos ports—Apapa and Tin Can—was a failure, leading to greater inefficiencies, corruption, and job losses.
According to the union leaders, bringing the same system to Onne, which currently faces no congestion issues, is unwarranted and could harm the already underutilized port infrastructure in the East.
They insisted that the region needs improved access roads, dredged water channels to allow larger vessels, and increased cargo throughput and vessel turnaround time—not policies that have proven ineffective elsewhere.
Placards displayed by protesting truck drivers and owners bore inscriptions such as “There is no congestion at Onne ports,” “We don’t want E-call up system at Onne,” and “E-call up didn’t work in Lagos.”
Protesters claimed the system would create room for corruption, as witnessed in Lagos, where a few actors allegedly hijacked the process to the detriment of genuine port users.
The Haulage District Chairman of MWUN, Eastern Zone, Comrade Adolphus Ugwu, discredited the reported support for the e-call up system by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), asserting that the group has no presence or recognition in Onne or the entire Eastern region.
He also dismissed claims by AMATO chieftain Adeshina Ajibola, stating that he was unknown to the union and operates outside the region.
Comrade Ugwu stressed that while the union does not oppose federal government initiatives, it urges the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy, and the Ministry of Transportation to suspend the e-call up system until proper consultations are made.
He maintained that the implementation would only increase operating costs and open avenues for exploitation by unscrupulous elements.
Supporting the union’s stance, Comrade Casmir Anukanti, District Secretary of the Truck Owners Association and MWUN Dock Workers Branch, echoed the Latin phrase “vox populi, vox Dei,” meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
He described the protest as an organic reaction to a policy that poses serious threats to livelihoods, particularly in the oil and gas-free zone at Onne.
Truck drivers who spoke to reporters also decried the policy, noting that its implementation in Lagos brought no visible benefits and only heightened their suffering.
Industry stakeholders have warned that unless the authorities reconsider, the e-call up system may disrupt Eastern maritime operations and negatively affect the region’s economic activities.