NPA resumes truck e-call-up system at APM Terminals Apapa as Union ends industrial action

By onepageafrica Last updated Apr 17, 2021

L-R: The Terminal Manager/Chief Operating Officer, APMT, Steen Knuos; the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; the Country Manager, APMT, Klaus Holm Laursen during an inspection of APM Terminal on the relocation of Scanner for the standard gauge rail line in Apapa, Lagos.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has resumed the electronic call-up system known as ETO, for trucks going to the APM Terminals Apapa, following the suspension of the industrial action by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The Union had on Thursday disrupted operations at the Terminal by shutting the entry and exit gates protesting anti-labour activities by the Management of the Terminal.

According to the Union, Nigerian dockworkers were being denied jobs they were qualified to handle, as foreign nationals were granted such job opportunities.

Therefore, on resolution of the dispute between the Union and the Terminal, the NPA weekend announced the resumption of activities at the APM Terminals at the Lagos Port Complex.

Thanking stakeholders for their support and patience while the disagreement lasted, the NPA assured that ETO tickets have resumed and operations started fully at the Terminal.

Following an intervention by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to settle the dispute, President-General of the MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, charged the APM Terminals Apapa to follow due process in line with the National Joint Industrial Negotiating Council (NJIC) agreement that was signed with them.

He said: “They are taking advantage of Nigerians and bringing in foreigners to take over our jobs. Now the workers have taken their fate or destiny in their hands that they won’t allow this to happen.

“The jobs that Nigerians can do, APMT is bringing in Egyptians, Ghanaians, among others to come and head departments that Nigerians have been heading. The Whiteman heading the terminal has no regard for Nigerians.

“He is in our father’s land and yet he would be calling us all sort of names. This is totally unacceptable. It is too bad.

“They don’t like us, yet they are making a lot of money in Nigeria, and taking the money back to develop their own country at the expense of Nigerians.”

Adeyanju, urged the Nigerian Immigration Service to ensure thorough check is carried out on foreign nationals engaged for work by the APM Terminals Apapa, to ascertain what their work permit approve for them to do.