…as NPA says there’s provision for continuity 

By Efe Onodjae

The National President of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA), Hon. Yinka Aroyewun, says Truck Transit Park Limited (TTP) is still collecting call-up fees from truckers despite the expiration of its contract in February 2026.

Speaking in an interview, Aroyewun described the continued collection as “illegal and fraudulent,” insisting that the five-year contract awarded to TTP by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in February 2021 has not been renewed. 

“The contract started in February 2021 for five years. It has expired. There is no renewal, yet they are still collecting money from truckers. That is illegal to start with,” he said.

Aroyewun faulted TTP’s electronic call-up system at Apapa ports, saying it has failed to ease traffic and has instead worsened congestion and inflation. “TTP is expected to ensure free flow of traffic, but gridlock persists in Apapa. Turnaround time has worsened. No truck can complete the process without being out of the job for about two weeks. At best, operators now manage only two trips weekly,” he stated.

The COMTUA president also alleged corruption within the system, claiming some trucks linked to NPA and TTP officials get daily port access while others are held back for weeks. “You find some trucks going into the port daily for special reasons, while others are held back in garages for weeks. This is clear favouritism,” he said.

He further accused TTP officials of selling call-up codes outside the official platform. “There is no truck that can enter the terminal without a code. Some officials now generate these codes and sell them for cash. These are all illegal practices,” Aroyewun alleged.

While noting that COMTUA supports the electronic call-up system in principle, he rejected TTP’s approach, which he called revenue-driven. He said the call-up fee, initially pegged at N10,000, rose to N40,000 before settling between N25,000 and N35,000, with operators still paying about N20,000 extra per trip unofficially.

“They have made enormous sums from this system while delivering little or no value. This has increased the cost of doing business and contributed to inflation,” he said, estimating the financial burden on truckers runs into tens of billions of naira.

Aroyewun urged the NPA to scrap the arrangement and take full control of port traffic management. “Our position is clear: the continuous collection of fees without a valid contract is extortion and must be abolished,” he said.

NPA Responds  

Reacting, NPA Spokesman, Ikechukwu Onyemechara, said operations could not be halted despite the contract’s expiration. “There is a provision in the agreement that allows services to continue without interruption while the renewal process is being finalised. Port services should not be halted under any circumstances,” he said.

Onyemechara added that the NPA established TTP and recognises its value to cargo movement in and out of the port. “We understand the importance of seamless cargo evacuation, and we anticipated that issues might arise during the renewal phase,” he stated.