By Uzor Odigbo
Major stakeholder in maritime sector, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has expressed shock over the level of damage on the headquarters building of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by hoodlums, who hijacked the #EndSARS peaceful protest last week.
The union’s leadership on Monday condemned the high level destruction on the authority’s magnificent building in Marina, Lagos.
The leadership, which said that the peaceful protest was to get the attention of the government to its inadequacies, lamented that it turned awry and regrettable.
While praying that the perpetrators are apprehended and punished, MWUN pledged support to the authority.
The union stated: “We, Leadership of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria have today being 26th day of October 2020 visited the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Head office at Marina to assess the extent of damage wrecked on same by hoodlums on Thursday 22nd October, 2020.
“We are to say the least shocked by the enormity of damage visited on the magnificent building and the destruction of valuable property.
“Whilst peaceful protest is universally acknowledged as a legitimate instrument usually engaged to draw the attention of government to its inadequacies or mis-governance, but when this protest turns awry and weapons are wantonly used, property looted and damaged and innocent souls wasted, it becomes regrettable and counterproductive.
“The wreckage visited on the NPA Headquarters building and the looting of its property is protest carried too far and it is only vandals whose brains are no longer in the right position that can carry out such.
“Whilst we condemn in its entirety the barbaric destruction of the NPA building by some mis-guided youths, we pray that the perpetrators are apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.
“We seize this opportunity to express our unalloyed support/solidarity with the management of NPA at this difficult time and always.”
