By Godfrey Bvbere & Precious Iyomere

Former President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Uzoijie Ukaumunna, has attributed the recent increase in illegal arms importation through the nation’s seaports to the concession exercise embarked upon by government five years ago.

Ukaumunnawho disclosed this recently in Lagos, noted that the Union had warned against the idea of allowing absolute private control of the ports, but that the advise was ignored.

Arguing that the position of the Union under his leadership had been vindicated with the recent proliferation of illegal arms and ammunitions detection through the seaports, Ukaumunna pointed out that his view had constituted a thorn in the flesh of some of those who stood to gain from the system without consideration for the country’s safety and security.

According to the former workers’ leader, the Union had recommended the commercialization of the ports, rather than privatization, when it became clear that government could no longer keep the ports as a public monopoly.

“I and my executives were not against port reforms. What we did which is based on international standard as a Union that loves its country, its members and its government was to advise government to look at the security implication of privatizing the ports.

“We travelled to China, Dubai and several other countries to find out what obtained there, and when we returned, we published our findings and recommendations in the media, based on what we saw,” he said.

Ukaumunna then held sway as the Union’s leader and Vice president of the then Adams Oshiomhole-led Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) before his executive team were thrown out of office by government fiat in year 2000, for allegedly being too confrontational with the establishment.

He further noted that: “Dubai Ports Authority was owned by the government and doing well. For four years then, the port was ranked as number three most efficient port worldwide.

Singapore Port was commercialized and yet the country has no natural resources except for tourism and its ports system which was rated as number one in the world in terms of efficiency.

“So what we recommended was commercialization and when government decided that it would not retain full ownership and would not commercialize but privatize, we let it be because nobody can fight government. It is unfortunate because the situation has eroded the security because we know that the security of the countries lies in the borders, air and sea routes”, he added.

Ukaumunna who maintained that he is still the authentic leader of the Maritime Workers’ Union pointed out that the battle was at the doorsteps of the International Workers’ Arbiteration panel, adding that, “I know that justice will prevail one-day.

“For now, we use this place (his personal residence) as our Secretariat since armed Mobile Policemen have taken over our Secretariat at Osho Drive, Olodi-Apapa”.

Ukaumunna who expressed disgust at the development pointed out that since he was pushed out of office in 2000 on the order of the then Transport minister (Ojo Madueke), the Union Secretariat had remained under armed guards, without recourse to public outcry against the act.