Port Security: MWUN to sack perpetrators over attacks on vessels

Sequel to the incessant attacks on vessels at berth and rising stowaway cases currently plaguing the Lagos Ports Complex, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to sack, any branch executive in whose jurisdiction such incidents continue to occur.The move by the union is part of its effort to complement the efforts to improve security at the ports through its strategic collaboration with the terminal operators and government agencies.

In a recent chat over reports of recent attacks on vessels at berth by pirates, Adewale Adeyanju alluded to allegations that it is possible some unscrupulous workers at the facility may be compromising to create an opportunity for those vessels to be attacked at berth by hoodlums.

Adeyanju lamented that the union has been uncomfortable about the attacks on vessels at berths and has put in place measures by serving a notice of warning to members of the union working at the terminals.

According to him, members of the union who operate at the terminals should serve as watchdogs and support the security personnel of the respective terminals.

To this end, he toured the Lagos seaport last week and threatened to sanction labour officers of any terminal that would suffer further pirate attacks on ships at berth and other possible cases of stowaways.

He also called on members of the union operating at the terminals to synergise with the security agencies in the area of useful information- sharing in tackling the menace.

However, the MWUN boss lamented that the termination of tally clerks and onboard security contracts from the respective stevedoring companies indirectly contributed to the incessant attacks as the attitude of those who lost their jobs could be a factor.

He said: “The tally clerks and onboard security form an integral part of dockworkers. We no longer have gangway men aboard anymore. What we are experiencing now might be the attitude of those who don’t have jobs again.

“The pirates can just sneak in and perpetrate any form of evil and that is the position of things at the moment. However, we are not comfortable and that is why we took the pain by serving a notice of warning to all our members that any particular area we find out that there is piracy or stowaway on- board a vessel, then the executives will be suspended according to the constitution of the union.”

Speaking further, he noted that “if there are no internal armed robbers or informants at the facilities, outside miscreants would find it difficult to come in and attack vessels at berth.”

Though the Nigerian Ports Authority has outlined strategies to curb such attacks by purchasing more platforms to police the waterfronts, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, says by the time some of the strategies are put in place, the agency would be able to identify stakeholders perceived to be responsible for such attacks