PTML Terminal, Grimaldi Shipping is the Most “Workers-friendly” At Nigerian Ports—Com Adeyanju

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Grimaldi Shipping and it’s subsidiary, Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML Terminal) have been adjudged as the most workers friendly terminal in the Nigerian port system.

PTML terminal is the biggest Roll-on Roll-off vehicle terminal in Nigeria.

This commendation was given inna chat with journalists by the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in Lagos last week.

Adeyanju said the union has never at anytime feel dissatisfied with PTML and Grimaldi Shipping management, adding that the company treats it’s workers better among all terminal operators and shipping companies in Nigeria.

He added that the company improves on its workers welfare as at when due, and that it maintains a very good remuneration structure, coupled with respect for the Nigerian labours.

“The Managing Director of Grimaldi Shipping and PTML Terminal, Mr Ascanio Russo is an intelligent man, he has the love of the workers at heart, I think he inherited it from his father.

“You can see his experience in the structures he has put in place at the terminal, the workers know what they are getting. So Ascanio is doing well with his team, he has been very good to all the workers, including the dockworkers, he is managing them well through their stevedoring contractor

“If we can have more people like this in our port system, we would not be having problems”

“If your employer is doing the right thing and treating workers very , there is no need of quarrelling with him, rather you keep appreciating him”

The MWUN President General states that the union have not had course to disagree with the company over workers salary and welfare packages.

In year 2005, Grimaldi Lines through its subsidiary PTML signed an agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria to Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) a new terminal in Lagos.

Under the BOT agreement – the first of this kind signed by the Federal Government in the maritime sector – Grimaldi assumed the obligation to build the new infrastructure at its own cost, to manage it for 25 years, to pay royalties to the Nigerian Port Authority and to return it at the end of the concession to the Federal Government.

The terminal has an area of over 350,000 sqm and an annual traffic throughput of over 100,000 containers, 150,000 vehicles and 200,000 tons of general cargo, PTML Terminal is the largest Ro/Ro Terminal in West Africa.