By Victor Ahiuma-Young
MARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has said the nation sea ports especially private Jetties and off-shore operations are the major sources of illegal arms and ammunition in the country now in the hands of bandits, warning the level of illegal arm imports and prevailing state of insecurity is threat to both lives and business activities in the country.

President-General of of MWUN, Comrade Anthony Emmanuel Nted,  called on President Jonathan  to order a special committee of security,  labour and other stakeholders to monitor mid-stream operations of importers and Private jetties to check influx of illegal arms in the country through  mid-stream operations and private jetties.

Addressing members of the National Executive Council, NEC, at their  meeting, Comrade Nted, expressed concern over the prevailing state of insecurity in the country as manifested in the wide spread incidence of kidnapping people for ransom, armed robberies, assassinations, and  the recent seizure of thirteen containers of rockets and other weapons of mass destruction at Apapa ports.

Comrade Nted argued that upsurge arm imports and armed banditry portended a bleak future for the country and, called on  all law enforcement agents charged with the security at  the ports and securing the nation’s borders to live up to expectations.

He said: “They should rise to the occasion by promptly arresting this dangerous trend and thus restore the confidence of Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria in the Government’s ability to protect lives and properties in our country.

Before now, we have  raised an alarm and called on the Federal Government to put  all the security services on the check.

What we mean by that is that they should leave up to expectations of Nigerians  because we found out that most of the arms and ammunition that come into this country came through the ports especially mid-stream operations and private jetties.”

“Imagine 13 containers of arms and ammunition including rocket launchers that were seized at Apapa Ports just Tuesday. Even in a situation of war, that should concern every right thinking Nigerian. These arms would not have come into the country. Nobody even knows if some of the arms have already sneaked into the country before the discovery of these ones.  If these ones have not been intercepted, what would have happen?.

Today,  we talk about kidnaping in the South East, Boko Harams in the North, etc, where did the arms and ammunition come from?”

He explained that the National Executive Council meeting was a platform “ to x-rays some of the things we have done in the past one year, and also to appraise some of the challenges ahead of us.”

As you are probably aware, the Maritime industry is a volatile industry, it is where we have a lot of challenges,   the union comprises of
so many branches ( Nigerian Ports Authority, Dock Workers, Seafarers, Inland Waterways, Shipping, etc,) and each of the branches have their own peculiar challenges.

Speaking on  achievements of the union under his leadership, Comrade Nted said: “As you are probably aware, for the past one year, there’s no strike action at the ports.

We have some challenges but we believe in dialogue.    Our first assignment in office, was therefore the task of renovating the National Secretariat building, and replacement of the office equipments. I am happy to report that we have been able to accomplish the task even at great financial cost.”