NARTO, MWUN Condemn N12,500 E-Call Up Levy At Lekki Seaport, Appeal To Lagos State Government
NARTO, MWUN Condemn N12,500 E-Call Up Levy At Lekki Seaport, Appeal To Lagos State Government
(L) MWUN president General,Comrade Francis Bunu Abi and NARTO National President Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman
By Frank Odinukaeze
The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have jointly expressed strong dissatisfaction over the imposition of a N12,500 E-Call Up levy per truck by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
In a statement signed by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media for MWUN, the two transport unions criticized the levy as “outrageous,” especially in light of the current economic hardship facing Nigerians and the rising cost of petroleum products.
NARTO revealed that it had earlier communicated its objections to the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation through a formal letter, urging a reconsideration of the policy. The union said the appeal was grounded on the principles of equity, affordability, and national economic interest.
Despite the letter, the union lamented that the ministry has failed to initiate any meeting or dialogue to address their concerns.
“The imposition of this levy without consultation is not only unrealistic but also insensitive to the prevailing economic realities in the country,” the unions stated.
While both NARTO and MWUN affirmed their commitment to the broader objectives of regulating truck traffic through the E-Call Up system, they emphasized the need for the Lagos State Government to engage stakeholders meaningfully before rolling out such financial burdens.
They called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene and facilitate a roundtable discussion between the Ministry of Transportation and the unions to arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution.
“We believe in constructive dialogue and urge His Excellency to step in so that both parties can find common ground in the interest of the state and the industry,” the statement concluded.
