Maritime Workers Union Condemns Invasion of Five Shipping Company Premises By Armed Men

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The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has condemned the invasion of the premises of five shipping companies by the Federal Committee of Competition and Consumer Protection escorted by heavily armed security operatives where members of the union were molested.

MWUN, in a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in Lagos on Monday said agents from the Federal Committee had invaded the work premises of its members in Cosco Shipping, Hullblyth, CMA/CGM, Cansal and Hapad Llyod and proceeded to unleash mayhem on innocent working members of the union.

“They seized their personal phones without any justification and held them hostage against their will and refused them movement outside their various offices,” the statement said.

While noting that it was not against government agencies doing their work, the union said laid down procedures should be followed.

While calling for an investigation into the invasion, the union warned that should such invasion of its members’ workplaces continue without due process; it will have no option but to withdraw its services.

The statement reads, “I wish to bring to the general public the sudden and shocking invasion of five shipping companies by agents who claim to be from the Federal Committee on Competition and Consumer Protection today Monday 18th October 2021.

“We have been informed that agents from the Federal Committee of Competition and Consumer Protection escorted by heavily armed police men and army personnel invaded the work premises of our members in Cosco Shipping, Hullblyth, CMA/CGM, Cansal and Hapad Llyod and proceeded to unleash mayhem on innocent working members of the union.

“They seized their personal phones without any justification and held them hostage against their will and refused them movement outside their various offices.

“While we are not against Government agencies doing their work, we believe that laid down procedures should be followed.

“Our enquiries at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council which is the regulating agency for all shipping companies indicate that they were not informed nor aware of this invasion of our members work places.

“Secondly, we do not also believe that any category of workers should be subjected to this inhuman treatment without just cause or prior information.

“Finally, we ask that this invasion of our workplaces and the keeping of our members hostage be immediately discontinued and investigated by appropriate authority for the sake of industrial harmony in the ports.

“Note, that should this kind of invasion of our members’ work places continue without due process, the Union will have no option but withdraw the services of its members.”

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