THE President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has appealed to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to look into the plight of dockworkers that have consistently been disallowed from working at private jetties.

Adeyanju told journalists in Lagos that apart from non-engagement of dockworkers, the level of security at these jetties was nothing to write home about.

*MOURNING: Boat operators at Majidun Jetty, Ikorodu, suspended ferry services in honour of the victims of Wednesday’s boat mishap that claimed seven lives. INSET: Stranded passengers redirected to the Metro Jetty, Ikorodu, yesterday. NAN PHOTOS.

The MWNU president general was reacting to the recent commissioning of the new labour call-house in Delta Port, Warri by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA); Hadiza Bala Usman. Currently, the NPA, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are empowered to licence and monitor private jetties in the country.

But, while commending the NPA boss for the commissioning, Comrade Adeyanju told journalists that it was time NPA looked into the activities of the private jetty operators. According to him, the owners have deliberately closed the jetties to dockworkers, thereby denying them of employment, stressing, “We are requesting that activities of the private jetties be looked into, with a view to providing for the participation of dockworkers in private jetty operations.”

Describing the commissioning of the labour call house at Delta ports as very important and commendable, Comrade Adeyanju acknowledged the joint funding by both the NPA and terminal operators for the actualization of the project. He specifically thanked the NPA managing director for “the good work she has been doing since she assumed office.”

He also pleaded with both the NPA and terminal operators to replicate the Delta Ports Labour Call House project at all ports in Nigeria, noting that since dockworkers were not engaged at the private jetties, their owners could use them as avenues through which questionable items (including arms) could be shipped into the country.

He also called for improved security at private jetties operating in the country, which he said have become an avenue through which weapons are smuggled illegally into the country.