By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Chinyere Abiaziem

MARITIME Workers of Nigeria, MWUN, has lauded the employment agenda of Integrated Logistics Services, INTELS, a terminal operator, in Onne Ports, Rivers State, saying it has about 15,000 workers in its employment.

President-General of MWUN, Anthony Nted, called on other terminal operators to emulate INTEL .

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, Nted who is also the Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said, “ If you also go to Onne Port in Rivers State, you will also witness the progress the operators are making. You will discover that INTELS is doing a good job.

If that company is owned by a black man, today we will be singing a different tune. The company came into Nigeria with one outdated crane and one forklift in Warri.

Today, the company is competing with the Nigerian Ports Authority. The beauty of the concession arrangement is that operators would not be taking away the entire supportive infrastructure they had already put in place.

The scheme is “Build and Operate”. All the equipment, property and warehouses you see in Onne and elsewhere belong to NPA

INTELS has employed directly or indirectly about 15,000 Nigerians. If those corrupt Nigerians who stole the nation’s money and stashed it away in Swiss banks and elsewhere were able to get a virgin land and develop and employ Nigerians, unemployment would reduce to the barest minimum. INTELS is doing a good job.

But you know the “Nigerian factor and pull him down” syndrome. We are aware of criticisms in certain quarters that INTELS is overcharging and all of that. Every business is competitive, go and compete.

Why can’t the critics go to Onne or other places to acquire a virgin land and compete? If INTELS is charging $10, for instance, you can charge $2 and you get more customers rather than engage in idle criticisms. The people are doing a good job-developing the area.

I do not hold brief for the company. I am a unionist. But the truth must be told. If other businesses could emulate INTELS, Nigeria’s maritime industry would be the better for it.

Whether in terms of equipment, or security/safety consciousness of the port, the people are doing a thorough job. They are expanding the jetties and more Nigerians are getting jobs.