Maritime Workers Urge NPA To Provide Adequate Logistics For Port Police, Lauds  CP Towuru 

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has urged management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other relevant stakeholders to provide adequate equipment and logistics  for the Western Port Police Authority Command in order to secure the maritime space in Lagos effectively.

The labour union also  commended the Commissioner in charge of  the Western Port Police Authority Command , CP Jonathan Towuru for his doggedness and efficiency in policing the two ports despite limited resources at his disposal.

President General of MWUN,Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in chat on Friday in Lagos,  stated that operatives of the police at Lagos  ports need  some level of encouragement and moral booster through provision of logistics, like patrol vehicles , motorbikes and other sophisticated communication equipment to enhance their performance.

Due to inadequate facilities, Adeyanju lamented that personnel of the Force at the existing  seaports in Lagos have the manpower  on ground but due to the ill-equipped condition  has affected their overall performance.

The PG further  urged management of NPA to look inward and provide the need equipment to boost their operations for effective and efficient port policing.

According the MWUN boss, the existing vehicles are in rickety condition and are not capacity to tackle distress calls or mayhem that may arise at the seaports, even as he  stressed the need for management of the port authority to provide modern and brand new vehicles  for day to day patrol.

He pointed out that security should not be limited to the operatives of the force alone but called on stakeholders in port operations to support the port police in information sharing and gathering in furtherance to securing the ports.

The President General recalled that the recent incident resulting to loss of life at ENL Consortium Limited Terminal, Lagos Ports Complex (LPC)  would have led to total collapse of port operations if not for the timely Intervention of operatives of the port police.

He said with the swift response from the police personnel to maintain orderliness and sanity against the backdrop of workers groaning and agitations  over their colleague’s death saved the port system from total collapse.

The labour leader reiterated that ” We must commend the port police for been effective despite the limited resources at their disposal.

“But we want NPA to provide the needed logistics for the police to patrol and police the ports effectively and efficiently.

“Security at the port is everybody’s business therefore NPA should provide the need equipment for them in case of distress calls at the ports.”he noted.

 

The labour leader reiterated that “They are trying, we have to give it to them, you all know what we all passed through in the time of COVID-19 and insecurity in the port in the past but the port security now has been fantastic, they are doing well

“We interface with them on daily basis. The port Police command is doing well. They have been able to curtail most of the things that would have caused violence or mayhem in the port.

“For instance,.look at the case of the guy 5hat dies at ENL, if it 2ere before, you know what would have happened. I only instructed the workers to close and go home because we cannot continue to be having crisis upon crisis in the port

“I give it to the Port Police command because the efficiency is there but they need to be empowered.

“The Nigerian Ports Authority should empower them, give them necessary equipment to work better

“If you see most of the trucks they are using, they are 1916 trucks, outdated trucks that they gave to the port Police command, NPA should give them what they deserve because they are doing a very good job.

“If they don’t have equipment to work with, how do you talk of efficiency? They should not relax because the port is peaceful today, they should prepare them for any eventuality.

“So, if there is distress in Tincan Island, they will start looking for motorbike, this is uncalled for, the policeman should be equipped and encouraged so that they can render more service,” he submitted.

 

By Roland Ekama