PORT ACCESS: Maritime Workers Union, NARTO Solidify MoU, Pledge Support for NPA, Shippers Council’s PSTT

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have pledged to deploy it’s existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council in ensuring free flow of traffic on the nation’s port access roads.

Recall that on February 23rd 2022, both bodies had signed an MoU to enhance haulage movement and delivery in the country, while at the same time, protecting the interest and welfare of it’s members.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Lagos on Friday, National President of NARTO, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman attested that the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) domiciled under the Nigerian Shippers Council is doing a great job, but that it still needs to be empowered to do more to completely sanitize the ports access roads against illegal extortions.

He said the collaboration between both bodies was birthed as a vehicle to take decisions on behalf of its combined membership to stem the negative gridlock which invariably affects their way and means of doing business in the quay aprons, terminals and jetties.

He said it is also to “Ingratiate in the psyche of our combined members the necessity to observe all the road regulations on our port access roads for ease of road movement and the amelioration of unnecessary hold ups.

“We wish to further inform the general public that as a “Collaboration” we do our business according to the dictates of the law and in conformity to extant regulations which prescribes our business modus operandi.

“Unfortunately, we have it on good authority that some unknown individuals in an apparent selfish move have disregarded these prescribed processes and proceeded to erect illegal collection/operation points along port access roads, thus extortion, harassments, intimidations mar the very peaceful processes which we seek to put in place, at the instance of enrichment of private pockets which revenue ordinarily ought to go into government coffers”

On his part, the President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju noted that the essence of the collaboration is to support a good program that has been laid down by the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“We are going to key into the programs of NPA, especially the ETO, we supported that platform and it has come to stay, we would continue to support the authority.

“This collaboration would also work hand in hand with the PSTT headed by Mr Fadipe from Shippers Council. MWUN is part of that body and we would share our experiences with them” he said

Comrade Adeyanju noted that MWUN and NARTO is not entering collaboration for the first time, adding that this has come to stay and both bodies are now putting a stamp on it.

“At the same time, the welfare of the drivers is very paramount, there is no way you can make use of truck drivers without taking care of their welfare.
When you look at the roads, if they are good, you would not see any queue on the port access.

“This collaboration would allow us work together with NPA and other like minds in the port, so that we can have free flow of traffic on the road.

“The era of thuggery is not part of this collaboration, I want to send a signal to my members, that they must not work against the MoU because it is binding on everybody, this is a warning to them, if you are found wanting, you are on your own.

“Again, all of us must be disciplined, there must be no form of thuggery, extortion or taking the port as if it belongs to you.

“We knew what happened when we formed COMTUA, the union had to pull out because the leadership had no respect for the institution that made them.

“What we did was to pull out, because the attitude of the exco did not tally with the agreement we reached. MWUN as a union that believe in the welfare of it’s members would not collaborate with any institution that has no interest of their members in their heart, this was reason why we pulled out of COMTUA.

“We believe in the rule of law, the port is a regulated area, anybody cannot just rise up and say he wants to do business in the port all in the name of a collaboration.

“The drivers and members are the ones driving this collaboration, so they must be well taken care of, we must protect their welfare in line with our constitution” Comrade Adeyanju declared