MWUN Decries Delay in Renewal of Port Concession Agreements at SCAN Dockworkers’ Day

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has expressed frustration over the ongoing delay in renewing port concession agreements for terminal operators at the country’s seaports.

Speaking at the 2024 Dockworkers’ Day event, organized by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) in collaboration with MWUN, the union’s President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, emphasized the urgent need to finalize the long-overdue renewal.

Adeyanju made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government, urging it to expedite the signing of the agreements, which he says has impacted operations at the seaports.

“We want to see the renewal of the licenses of terminal operators. There are a lot of dividends that we are getting from responsible terminal operators. Why are you delaying the signing of their agreements? The workers are now warming up because they are worried about what is happening to their employers,” Adeyanju stated.

He also called for enhanced capacity building for dockworkers, urging terminal operators to invest in training maritime workers and engage qualified personnel to lead these efforts.

Adeyanju further lamented the lack of international recognition for certificates from Maritime University Oron, despite millions of dollars spent on equipping the institution.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has initiated processes to modernize the nation’s ports. This effort is aimed at addressing the deteriorating infrastructure to improve port efficiency and ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime space.

Oyetola assured that the Federal Government would continue to foster a favorable environment to encourage private sector participation. “This is necessary to attain the goals, enhance opportunities, and harness the immense benefits in the sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adeleye Ajayi, highlighted the transformation and sanitization of Nigeria’s dock labor. He stressed the importance of creating a safer operating environment at the ports, with retraining programs for stevedores and dockworkers to improve efficiency.

Ajayi applauded the partnership between SCAN and MWUN, encouraging both organizations to continue collaborating for improved port operations.

President of SCAN, Eugene Agha, also spoke at the event, noting that Nigeria is on the path to maximizing its oceanic resources with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. According to Agha, the government and private stakeholders are already positioning themselves to capitalize on this development.

“In an import-dependent economy, and with the port sector being a primary segment for revenue generation and economic diversification, we at SCAN believe that dockworkers are pivotal in transforming efforts to exploit the nation’s marine potentials into economic wealth,” Agha concluded.