Truck park operators in Onne, Rivers State, have declared full support for the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA) implementation of the Electronic Call-Up System.
The move is expected to ease the debilitating gridlock along the Eastern Ports corridor, improve the speed and efficiency of cargo evacuation, and reduce financial losses caused by the delayed rollout of the policy, which had enabled unregulated truck movements and extortion by non-state actors.
Stakeholders said the adoption of the digital traffic management platform marks a critical step toward restoring order around Onne Port, enhancing turnaround time for vessels, and protecting investments in the trucking and logistics value chain.
Confirming the readiness of industry players, Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC), Onne Chapter, Godwin Ololuke, said preparations for the e-call-up system have been concluded along the Onne Port corridor.
“We have met with the truck park owners, the system consultant, and the management of the NPA through the Port Manager in Onne. The aim is to ensure a controlled movement of trucks within and around the port area and guarantee safety for all stakeholders, including schoolchildren and residents living nearby,” he said.
Ololuke added that the initiative is expected to streamline truck entry, reduce random parking on port access roads, and improve operational predictability for port users.
A truck driver, Johnbull Igbikiowubo, described the rollout as timely and long overdue.
“The e-call-up system is a welcome development that needs to be embraced by every stakeholder. The cooperation of all stakeholders is essential to ensure its success for the benefit of everyone involved and the nation’s economy,” he said.
Also speaking, an official of Waterhouses Marine and Logistics Limited, Olumide Ibitolu, attributed the temporary disorder around the corridor to the ongoing registration of trucks under the new system. He said the challenges are expected to ease once the onboarding process is completed and the platform becomes fully active.
Industry players believed the adoption of the call-up system, which has been central to traffic control in Lagos ports, will improve the competitiveness of Onne Port, reduce demurrage costs associated with traffic delays, and strengthen cargo evacuation for businesses operating in the Eastern maritime hub.
