Some maritime groups demand suspension of e-call up at Onne Sea Port following the collection of billions of Naira, as they accuse the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of illegal fees without holding bays
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
Tension is brewing at Onne Port IN Rivers State as a coalition of maritime associations has called for the immediate suspension of the Electronic Call-Up System (E-Call Up), accusing the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of collecting illegal fees, running into several billions of Naira without providing basic infrastructure.
The coalition comprising the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), ARFFN, APFFLON, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Onne Youth Congress, among others, made the demand during a joint press briefing on Tuesday, August 12, 2026 at the ANLCA Secretariat, Onne, Eleme LGA, Rivers State.
In their resolutions read by Chairman of ANLCA, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, the coalition lamented unfulfilled promises by the NPA and the deplorable state of access roads leading to the Onne Port, which they said have caused untold hardship to importers, clearing agents, and the host community.
They described the millions allegedly collected by the NPA through the E-Call Up platform as “fraudulent” since no holding bays have been provided six months after the system commenced at Onne, saying, “We can no longer continue to pay bogus fees for a system that has no holding bays and leaves our trucks stranded on bad roads.”
The coalition issued a five-point resolution insisting on the suspension of the E-Call up as from August 17, 2026
The coalition insisted that all parties agreed to work together in the interest of members; there shall be no more indiscriminate parking of trucks on Onne roads to ensure free flow of traffic and all access roads within Onne leading to the port must be properly maintained to prevent container falls, injuries and loss of lives.
Other resolutions are that members shall no longer participate in arbitrary payments associated with the E-Call Up System and implementation of the E-Call up system should be suspended until adequate holding bays are built to accommodate trucks at Onne Port. The suspension takes effect Monday, August 17, 2026.
Speaking on revenue, the coalition noted that between January and July 2026, Onne Port generated ₦439 Billion from Customs collectibles and approximately ₦48 Billion from Customs Oil & Gas Free Zone a total of ₦487 Billion in seven months.
They urged the Federal Government through the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adebboyega Oyetola to allocate a fraction of the revenue to fix and maintain internal access roads leading to Onne Port.
Chairmen of the associations, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku (ANLCA), Hon. Ike Okechukwu Anselm (NAGAFF), Prince Obinna Ugochukwu (ARFFN), Kolawole Atanda (APFFLON), Comrade Uche Ogbu (MWUN), Comrade Nwosu Emeka (NCMDLCA), Hon. Eric Kalu (ANLCA Oil & Gas) and Comrade Gift Aken of Onne Youth Congress, unanimously condemned the Federal Government’s failure to fix the port access roads.
They warned that if NPA fails to address the issues raised, the coalition will have no option but to embark on industrial action, saying, “We are giving NPA the opportunity to do the right thing. If not, our members will shut down operations at Onne.”
