SAFETY: MWUN Warns NPA To Stop Vessels From Berthing At Five Star Logistics Terminal 

Worried about dockworkers safety at Tin Can Island Port Complex (TICPC) over the collapsed quay apron, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has sent a strong warning to management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the need to halt vessels berthing activities at Five Star Logistics Terminal.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) affiliate union further stated that workers are still observing the situation and may be forced to take unexpected action if government fails to repair the quay apron on time.

President General of MWUN , Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in a chat on Wednesday in Lagos, accused the port concessionaire of also capitalising on the failed portion of the terminal to endanger the live of workers, noting that the union will not continue to watch until a major accident will occur before reacting on the danger ahead.

Adeyanju who frowned at the lackluster attitude of the government to fix the collapsed structure which in turn generate huge revenue to the nation’s economic, maintained that port operations should not be dragged into politics but to prioritized mostly as it concerns  repair of any thing that would hamper efficiency at the seaports.

He noted that ” We are going to blackout that terminal very soon because safety is of paramount . Our members are there and we cannot fold our hands like that and that is why we are calling on NPA to tell Five Star Logistics Terminal to stop berthing vessels.

” We will not allow accident to happen before we take action about that terminal. We will just take the actions unexpectedly because they are making money at the terminal despite that looming danger . This is the same terminal that is telling us that all is ok but all is not ok.

“We will wake up one morning close down the terminal,” the President General fumed.

Adeyanju who also doubles as the 1st Deputy President General, NLC lamented that despite the condition of the quays, NPA still allow vessels to berth at the terminal which is inappropriate in line with International convention noting that all is not well with the terminal.

The President General further accused the Nigerian Shipper’s Council for failing to mediate and inform the Federal Executives Council of the last administration about the importance of the collapsed quay apron in government revenue drive and the need for urgent repairs.

He also recalled that government has failed to also fix the BUA terminal in Onne, Rivers State adding that most of the facilities in the eastern need urgent attention in terms of rehabilitation.

Recall that the Senior Staff union has promised to engage the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need to expedite actions on the repair of the quay aprons of all the affected port terminals.