General
Maritime Workers Insist no Congestion at Onne, Reject e-Call up System
By Bon Peters
Maritime transporters under the auspices of Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) Eastern Zone have rejected the e-call up truck system at Onne and other ports in the Eastern Zone, vowing action if the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other maritime authorities refuse to adhere to their call for its review.
The association rising from an emergency meeting Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where over 700 of their members were in attendance insisted that the e-call up system failed at Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin Can, wondering why such should be experimented in the Eastern ports, which are strongly yearning for port infrastructural development such as good access road and dredging of water channels to accommodate more vessels and increase cargo throughput and vessel turnaround time.
The group lamented that freight differential and high insurance at the Eastern ports have already dealt a big blow on the operators.
Our correspondent reports that some of the truck owners and drivers alike were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as, there is no congestion at Onne ports, we don’t want e-call up system at Onne, e-call up is to kill the Eastern ports, e-call up didn’t work in Lagos among others insisted that those canvassing for the system are the ones who have put in place their “corrupt mechanisms” waiting to hijack the platform as they did in Lagos, thereby causing unemployment and hardship for people who are already suffering.
They described the system as “hydra-headed monster” that would in the long run stifle the Onne oil and gas business and also cripple the esteem ports which they said was underutilized.
Reminded the one group who goes by the name Association of Maritime Truck owner (AMATO) was alleged to have endorsed e-call up system and expressed their willingness to adopt the system, the Haulage District Chairman Maritime workers union Eastern Zone, Mr Adolphus Ugwu, said, “Such Association is nonexistent here at Onne or only existed on the author’s imagination not here at Onne Port or the entire Eastern ports.”
“The so called AMATO chieftain Adeshina Ajibola in that online publication claimed he came to Onne on invitation, that means he doesn’t operate nor reside here, we don’t even know him.
“The other person who said he is Samuel Ossai, the Coordinating Secretary of Trucker Owners is not our member,” he stated.
People, who know him, said he drives Keke at Onitsha, you can see how desperate some people can be. They went and rented those people to cause confusion at Onne.
“But, having critically examined E-Call up system, my people at Onne and eastern ports have unanimously said No to E-Call up system. No congestion here at Onne, and Onne Port is not ripe for e-call system,” he said.
Speaking further, Comrade Ugwu said we’re not against the policy of the federal government and will never be but we are pleading with the authorities concerned to hear our cries and suspend it for now. There is no congestion at Onne and the cost implication will be much as some people will hijack the system for their selfish gains.”
“Maritime works are law abiding citizens of this country. What we are saying is that they should not bring this system here that failed woefully in Lagos“, he emphasized.
Contributing, District Secretary Truck owners Association, Maritime workers union, Dock workers branch, Comrade Casmir Anukanti quoted a Latin maxim which says vox populi vox Dei, meaning The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
He said, “What you are seeing today is an organic crowd not rented and they have voiced their rejection of the E-Call system in the Eastern Ports and precisely Onne through our resolution.
“Feelers we got from Lagos showed it didn’t work. Onne is not a guinea pig for experimentation. So both the drivers and Truck owners said not to it.
“We are law abiding association and always act within the ambits of the law. What we are saying is that NPA, the Ministry of Maritime and Blue economy as well as the transportation ministry should look into our cries and suspend the e-Truck Call up system for now. “Onne Port and other eastern ports are underutilized.
“We are keenly watching and might take appropriate actions if the need arises” Anukanti assured.
Some of the drivers, who spoke to our correspondent, were unanimous in rejecting the e-call up system which they said would aggravate their suffering.” We don’t want it, some of our drivers go to Lagos when dey launch am but wetin we find go there we no see am” they said in pidgin.
Last week, stakeholders under the aegis of Coalition of Maritime stakeholders have voiced their rejection of the e-call up system saying such would cripple the Eastern ports especially affect businesses at the oil and gas free zone at Onne.
Industry watchers are keenly watching and believing such might not disrupt operations at Onne and other ports at the Eastern Maritime corridors of the country if not properly handled by the authorities concerned.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering.
Recall that the same court had ordered the remand of Mr Malami at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Mrs Bashir Asabe, are standing trial predicated on a 16-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trio, who are accused of laundering N8.7 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.
Following their plea of not guilty, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre till January 2, 2026, when their written bail application would be argued by his legal team.
In the charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants were accused of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities.
The indictment claimed that they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences took place between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s time as the country’s Attorney-General.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025.
They were also accused of depositing an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties in question include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, bought for N700 million; and another in Jabi District for N850 million.
Additional acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).
The EFCC further alleges that Mr Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023.
The acquisitions were allegedly made through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.
The commission claimed that the alleged actions violate the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate allegations of tax deduction and non-remittance fraud linked to the NLNG Train 7 project.
Train 7 is a major expansion project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria. It involves building a seventh “train” (processing unit) at the LNG plant to significantly increase Nigeria’s LNG production capacity and strengthen the country’s role as a global supplier of cleaner energy.
NAPO’s President General, Mr Harold Benstowe, alongside four other officials, appeared at the EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, to adopt a petition accusing Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria and others of alleged unlawful tax deductions from workers on the multibillion-dollar NLNG Train 7 gas plant construction project.
According to NAPO, the EFCC received the delegation and guided them through the formal adoption of the petition, paving the way for what the union described as a “proper forensic investigation” into the alleged financial misconduct.
“The EFCC has assured the victims that it will conduct a thorough investigation to get to the root of the matter,” Mr Benstowe said, describing the development as a major step toward accountability in the construction segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It also raised that the allegations strike at the heart of compliance risks surrounding one of Nigeria’s most strategic gas investments, with potential implications for contractors, regulators and investor confidence in large-scale energy projects.
Mr Benstowe called on workers involved in the NLNG Train 7 project to actively support the investigation by submitting documentary evidence, particularly payslips allegedly showing tax deductions by Daewoo E&C Nigeria.
“We encourage all affected workers to freely come forward with more evidence to assist the EFCC in carrying out a comprehensive investigation,” he said.
He also dismissed reports of intimidation, warning that the union would resist any attempts to suppress whistleblowers.
“All victims should ignore threats or discouragement from any quarters. This is no longer business as usual. We are prepared for a big showdown to ensure everyone involved is brought to book,” Mr Benstowe declared.
The NAPO leader framed the petition as part of a broader struggle for financial transparency and workers’ rights in Nigeria’s oil and gas construction value chain, stressing that the outcome would send a strong signal to contractors operating on high-value energy projects.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has unveiled its institutional brand identity as it officially transition from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the newly established revenue collection agency as gazetted.
The transition was marked with the unveiling of the agency’s new logo, according to a statement from Mr Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser to the chairman of NRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji.
Speaking at the unveiling event in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Adedeji said the new identity represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.
The taxman said the unveiling reflects a renewed commitment to a more unified, efficient, and service-oriented revenue system aligned with Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda and global best practices.
He said the new identity signals continuity of purpose, strengthened institutional capacity, and a forward-looking approach to supporting taxpayers and national development.
According to the statement, the NRS said it remains committed to transparency, partnership, and service excellence.
“The unveiling of this new identity represents not an end, but the beginning of a strengthened relationship between the revenue authority and the Nigerian public—built on trust, clarity, and shared prosperity,” the statement reads.
It was also stated that the service came into operation following the signing of its enabling law — the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025 — by President Bola Tinubu in June.
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