The Association of Maritime Truck Owners has called for an urgent review of the Electronic Call-Up system following repeated cancellations of paid truck bookings.

The group described the practice as unfair and contrary to consumer protection laws.

AMATO said truckers suffer avoidable losses whenever bookings expire due to operational delays beyond their control, forcing them to pay new fees. The association’s Head of Research and Technical, Adeshina Ajibola, argued that the situation violates sections of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act that guarantee timely service and redress.

Ajibola urged Truck Transit Parks, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other stakeholders to create a transparent dispute resolution process. He also called for refunds or the transfer of bookings when delays result from systemic failures.

AMATO Secretary Sani Mohammed added that each Truck Delivery Order should be permanently linked to a specific truck after matching to prevent duplication and possible abuse.

He alleged that the current system allows some importers or agents to reassign the same order to another truck.

The association insisted that truck owners should not bear the cost of operational inefficiencies. Mohammed questioned why truckers lose booking fees when the service is not rendered, while terminal operators and agents face no penalties.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper