The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne youths and other stakeholders have issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to suspend E-Call Up levies imposed on trucks entering Onne Port and fix the port’s dilapidated internal roads or face a shutdown of operations.
The stakeholders issued the ultimatum at a joint press conference in Onne, Rivers State, on Wednesday, warning that they would suspend business activities from Monday, August 17, if their demands were not addressed.
Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Eastern Port, Comrade Uche Ogbu, said the poor condition of the roads and the manner in which trucks are being managed under the E-Call Up system were disrupting port operations and endangering lives.
He also faulted the absence of adequate holding and loading bays for trucks despite repeated appeals from stakeholders.
According to Ogbu, the absence of designated facilities has resulted in indiscriminate parking of trucks along Onne roads, creating serious safety and traffic concerns.
‘We are the people carrying the burden of the E-Call Up levies. We, the maritime workers, in collaboration with other stakeholders and Onne communities, are going to down tools from Monday,’ he said.
He said the unions would also direct their members to stop E-Call Up operations at the port until the government responds to their concerns.
Ogbu argued that the NPA should communicate the infrastructure challenges at the Eastern Port to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Federal Government, insisting that stakeholders could no longer bear the consequences of the poor facilities.
Also speaking, the Onne Chapter Chairman of ANLCA, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, called on the Federal Government to allocate part of the revenue generated from Onne Port to rehabilitate its roads.
He said the Onne Port Command generated approximately N439 billion in customs revenue between January and July 2026, while the Oil and Gas Free Zone Customs generated about N48 billion during the same period, bringing the combined revenue to approximately N487 billion.
Isikaku said it was unacceptable for the port to generate such revenue while its access roads remained in a deplorable condition.
He said the stakeholders had resolved to reject arbitrary payments associated with the E-Call Up system and demanded its suspension until adequate holding bays were provided.
According to him, the suspension would take effect from Monday, August 17, and remain in place until the identified challenges were addressed.
The stakeholders also demanded proper maintenance of all access roads leading to the port to reduce accidents, container falls, injuries and loss of lives.
The NPA management at Onne Port had not officially reacted to the demands as of press time. However, a source within the organisation said efforts were being made to address the issues raised by the stakeholders.