The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) is calling for an immediate overhaul of the Electronic Call-Up (ETO) system. The group argues that the frequent cancellation of pre-paid truck bookings is unjust and violates established consumer protection regulations.
Adeshina Ajibola, the head of research and technical operations at AMATO, pointed out that these cancellations occur because of logistical delays outside of the drivers’ control. He cited the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018, noting that the current system fails to provide the service reliability or the compensation required by law. He urged the Nigerian Ports Authority and Truck Transit Parks to implement a formal refund policy.
Additionally, AMATO Secretary Sani Mohammed requested that Truck Delivery Orders be locked to specific vehicles upon matching. He claims the current system is vulnerable to abuse, as some parties can reassign orders to different trucks. Mohammed emphasized that truck owners should not be penalized for operational issues within the port system and insisted that unused wallet balances be returned if a service is not provided.