Labour Workers Bemoan Cancellation Of Onboard Security In Port Operations.

Labour officials of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria have expressed worries over the cancellation of onboard security from ports operation ,saying the low number of private and government security personnel at the facilities pose serious threat from external attack and other criminal elements .

Recall that onboard security operation was terminated  in 2015 by management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), even as the affected workers were later paid off in 2019.

 

As a result, Wharf rats and other criminal gangs from neighbouring communities had began to access  the terminals to either perpetrate broaching, pilfering and vandalisation of cargoes due to inadequacy of private security personnel employed by terminal operators.

 

Although the trend is said to have simmered in the port, some criminal elements from the neighbouring  communities along the waterways are allegedly still engaged in the act.

 

Speaking on the development, Tin Can Port  2 Chairman, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adetumi Oluwole Michael said that even though there is pilfering in the port, members of the union were not responsible adding that the cancellation of onboard security the government led to the vulnerability of the terminals.

 

 

 

According to him, if the onboard security men had been on ground, there is no way outsiders would have gained entrance into the terminals without being caught.

 

He lamented that the terminals were under secured by security operatives, especially as it concerns Tin Can Island Port noting that the government should look inward toward revamping onboard security for effective policing of the facilities.

 

The chairman affirmed that :”For the issue of wharf rats, it is a forgone issue as far as Tin Can Island port is concerned, but we still have pockets of it coming from people coming through the waters and not from our workers.

 

“We know that the union is battling with onboard security issue but I am not in position to discuss that but when it comes to terminal, I think all the terminals have right and capacity to protect their terminals that is why they have their own private security. Some have local security even as some have police unit.

 

“Some of the things I observed is that some of the security men do not do what they are supposed to do because as security men, you supposed to be at your duty post always.

 

“How can somebody come from the water and enter the terminal and the purpose of you being there is to secure the place and you were not found at your duty post.

 

“The onboard security that are supposed to be at the terminals to consolidate are no more there

 

Speaking on when last the dastardly act was witnessed in the port, he said, “The last time I heard about pilfering in the port was December period when they made away with some bags of cocoa made for exports. Some of them were captured and names mentioned but among the names, none of our members was among them.”

 

 

By Roland Ekama