MWUN helmsman ties insecurity in ports to absence of onboard security personnel

By allcitynews.ng

Concerned by the rising cases of vices within Nigerian ports, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade (Prince) Adewale Adeyanju, has called on Federal Government to bring back the services of the onboard security men in the port.

Just as said the absence of the onboard security is triggering insecurity at the seaport, disclosing that the union is set to enter into partnership with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in order to checkmate ferrying of drugs through ports.

Adeyanjo who made this known while speaking with Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) in his secretariat, Apapa, Lagos.

Enumerating some challenges facing the maritime sector, in l LAWAN monthly forum, which took place in the union’s office, the MWUN helmsman said, “these people (onboard security personnel) were the ones checkmating the activities in the seaports. They alert us on any vessel carrying fake drugs or goods. They fish out the bad from the good.”

But since their suspension, many unpatriotic individuals have been using their absence as loopholes to bring in drugs and other harmful products undetected.

“FG should bring them back because they are losing a lot in revenue. Nobody is in the seaport to monitor how many barrels come in. A vessel with 45 tonnes can claim it is 35 because no one is checkmating them.

“Our ports are just too porous whereby people can just come in and out without any challenge. Shipping lines are exposed to security threats as there are no security personnel onboard those ships. Based on the lack of security, traffickers in drugs and other things are using that to carrying out their illegal work unchallenged.”

Similarly, he called on Federal Government to fill the vacuum being created in NPA, noting that there is shortage of staff in the agency is another challenge confronting the sector.

”There is a need for more employment, we need more staff to fill the vacuum in NPA created by promotions. The Federal Government should employ more capable hands and there is need for salary review for staff.”

While identifying retirement in the sector as another challenge facing the union, he said: mentioning of retirement is like death sentence to the workers in the sector because of the herculean hurdles they have to go through.

Furthermore he said though staff welfare is another challenge facing the union, nonetheless “we are working on that in order to make everyone enjoy their entitlement.”

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