In what appears to be a bold first step toward overhauling Nigeria’s port haulage and trucking coordination, the new President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, has hosted a joint delegation of executives from the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and Silo Cargo Truck Owners at the union’s national secretariat in Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.
The visit, which marks the first official interface between the MWUN leadership and the haulage stakeholders under Bunu’s watch, is seen as part of a larger effort to address deep-rooted challenges plaguing port-bound truck operations across Nigerian seaports.
During the meeting, the haulage executives congratulated Bunu on his election and urged him to lend his experience and influence toward creating a more functional and responsive haulage framework, especially as ports continue to grapple with congestion, extortion, and operational bottlenecks.
Highlighting several operational challenges faced by truckers, the delegation called for a renewed partnership with MWUN to improve efficiency, reduce disruptions, and streamline the movement of cargo in and out of port environments.
Responding, Comrade Bunu Abi — a maritime professional and seafarer with a background in business administration — assured the group of his commitment to unifying and strengthening haulage coordination. He emphasized that MWUN would no longer remain passive on issues affecting port logistics, truckers, and cargo movement.
“We cannot achieve port efficiency without a stable and coordinated haulage sector. The Union will work closely with all transport stakeholders to ensure operations are seamless, safe, and fair to all players,” Bunu said.
He also extended assurances to the Silo Cargo Truck Owners, vowing to support their operations and protect their interests in all matters relating to port and inland cargo haulage.
The interaction, which ended with expressions of goodwill from both parties, sets the tone for what may become an era of deeper alignment between labour and trucking interests in the maritime supply chain.
With the MWUN President-General taking an active role in transport sector discussions, stakeholders anticipate greater advocacy, better regulation, and a push toward resolving long-standing bottlenecks that have cost the industry billions in losses.
