Stakeholders at the Onne Port in Rivers State have threatened to shut down operations from Monday, 17 August 2026, over deplorable roads, inadequate infrastructure and alleged arbitrary charges linked to the e-call-up system.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Onne Youth Congress and other port stakeholders also demanded the immediate suspension of the e-call-up system, accusing authorities of imposing charges on truckers without providing the infrastructure needed to support port operations.
Speaking at a joint press conference at Onne Port on Wednesday, ANLCA Onne Port Chapter Chairman, Ifeanyi Isikaku, described the port roads as “death traps”, warning that their condition posed serious risks to truckers, port users and members of the host community.
The stakeholders cited a lack of adequate holding bays, indiscriminate parking of trucks and frequent vehicle damage as major concerns.
Isikaku accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of failing to honour an earlier commitment to provide sufficient holding bays and other facilities before implementing the e-call-up system.
He said the associations had resolved to stop participating in the system until their demands were met.
The stakeholders called for urgent rehabilitation of access roads to prevent container accidents, injuries and loss of lives, while rejecting what they described as “arbitrary and bogus payments” associated with the e-call-up system.
Isikaku also urged the Federal Government to dedicate part of the revenue generated by Onne Port to infrastructure development, saying more than N487 billion was realised from the port between January and July 2026.
MWUN Onne Seaport Chapter Chairman, Uche Ogbu, confirmed that maritime workers would join the industrial action from Monday.
“We are the people that are directly carrying the burden of the e-call-up financials. We, in collaboration with the whole association itself and the community, are going to down tools from Monday,” Ogbu said.
He added that truckers would continue loading consignments but would stop making e-call-up payments.
Representing the Onne Youth Congress, Obari Johnson said the deteriorating roads had also caused deaths and disrupted community life, alleging that residents had been killed by trucks and that heavy traffic had at times cut off parts of the community.