MWUN Storms Lekki Freeport To Resolve Brewing Operational Crisis, Demands Respect For Protocols

 

By Roland Ekama

In a dramatic move to quell rising tensions at Lekki Freeport Terminal, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has stepped in decisively to tackle growing unrest among dockworkers.

On Wednesday, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, President General of MWUN, led a high-powered delegation to the port, responding to urgent distress calls from workers frustrated by operational chaos and a troubling communication blackout from management.

The union leaders were welcomed by Christophe Cassang, the CEO of Lekki Freeport Terminal, alongside senior management officials, signaling a critical turning point in what Bunu described as a relationship “like that of a husband and wife” — fraught but salvageable.

Bunu didn’t mince words, revealing that the union had been flooded with complaints about unresolved operational issues that management had stubbornly ignored. “We had to intervene directly because all attempts to resolve these problems at lower levels were stonewalled,” he said.

The MWUN chief underscored the urgent need to restore order and respect for established procedures. “There are clear protocols that must be followed, yet both management and some union members have been breaching these rules,” Bunu warned. He stressed that workplace issues must first be addressed by in-house union representatives and HR before escalating to the President General or CEO.

One flashpoint was the management’s failure to recognize the in-house union, which Bunu said was eroding respect for the chain of command and encouraging rogue behavior among some workers. “No worker has the right to take the law into their own hands,” he declared firmly.

 

Bunu also called for greater involvement of district chairmen and branch presidents in port activities, emphasizing that workers must feel a sense of ownership and professionalism befitting Lekki Freeport’s status as a world-class facility.

In a symbolic gesture, the P-G handed over formal letters detailing workers’ grievances to management, signaling that the union means business.

Echoing these concerns, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize, President of the Dockworkers Branch, stressed the importance of grassroots governance and adherence to complaint procedures. He also announced an upcoming election to usher in new leadership for the Dockworkers Branch after his eight-year tenure.

Responding positively, CEO Christophe Cassang admitted past lapses in following protocols and pledged to enforce proper procedures moving forward to ensure faster resolution of issues.

The visit ended on a hopeful note with a tour of the terminal by the union executives, marking a fresh chapter in the quest to harmonize worker-management relations at Lekki Freeport Terminal.

This bold intervention by MWUN signals a new era of accountability and cooperation at one of Nigeria’s most strategic maritime hubs. The eyes of the nation are now on Lekki Freeport — will management and workers finally find common ground?