At Onne Port, Stakeholders Reject NPA’s Electronic Call-up System, Export Terminal Operations

—APFFLON Petitions NPA MD, Demands Suspension

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Freight Forwarders under the aegis of Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) in Onne Port, Rivers State have called on the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dr Abubakar Dantsoho to suspend the newly Introduced Call-up system and Export Terminal Operations at the Onne Port.

In an appeal letter dated 15th of October 2025, signed by Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the National President of APFFLON, the call-up system has increased the cost of operations at the port.

“I write to respectfully express our deep concerns regarding the recent introduction of a call-up system at the Onne Port, as well as emerging challenges surrounding the export terminal operations at the port.

“While we understand the importance of orderliness and traffic management around port environments, it is worrisome that this call-up system has been introduced at Onne Port with associated costs, especially when the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) – operating within the same port – already has facilities that can effectively manage traffic without incurring any additional charges to port users.

“This development is particularly troubling in light of the Federal Government’s continuous efforts to reduce the cost of port operations, promote the ease of doing business, and reposition Nigeria as a maritime hub in West Africa.
Adding more cost layers through a duplicative or commercially-driven call-up system undermines these objectives and threatens Nigeria’s regional competitiveness.

“Furthermore, the situation at the export terminal in Onne Port is equally alarming. Exporters are now confronted with additional charges and bureaucratic bottlenecks, which significantly discourage exports and run counter to the national agenda of boosting non-oil exports.
These inefficiencies and rising costs not only impede business operations but also risk driving exporters to neighboring ports in other West African countries.

“As a key stakeholder representing freight forwarders and logistics professionals across Nigeria, we respectfully appeal to your esteemed office to:
1. Immediately suspend the newly introduced call-up system at Onne Port, pending a comprehensive stakeholder consultation and cost-benefit analysis.
2. Ensure uniform policy implementation across all port terminals, especially where existing infrastructure like that at WACT already adequately addresses traffic flow and control.
3. Address the bottlenecks and extra charges associated with the export terminal at Onne, in order to encourage export activities and align with the FG’s trade facilitation policies.
4. Involve stakeholders such as APFFLON,ANCLA, NAGAFF ,CCC ,SEREC in policy formulation and review processes, as collaboration remains the key to achieving sustainable port reforms.

“We firmly believe that your leadership will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and national interest in all decisions relating to port operations. It is our hope that these matters will receive your urgent attention in order to protect the growth of our maritime sector and the wider economy.

“We are open to a roundtable engagement with NPA and relevant agencies to further discuss these issues and propose workable solutions” the letter stated