Bolaji Agboola Elected As President of Dockworkers, MWUN

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has elected Comrade Bolaji Agboola as the President of its Dockworkers Branch for the next eight years.
Comrade Agboola who hailed from the Apapa District 1 was returned unopposed at the 6th Branch Quadrannial Delegate Conference held at the KFT event centre, Warri, Delta State on Monday 23rd, June 2025.

Also elected alongside Comrade Agboola is the Branch Treasurer, Comrade Wole Adetumi Michael, Comrade Bestman Biopko, Vice President, Comrade Sharafadeen Oguntoyinbo as Trustee.

Others are; Comrade Augustine Okpas – Trustee Comrade Isa Anmed,Auditor and Comrade Augustina Okeiwu as Special Female Member

Speaking at the opening session of the conference, President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi charged the newly elected Dockworkers President to hold his position in trust, and always put the interest of the union first.

“Remember that you are elected into a position of trust, the interest of the union must be paramount to you, we have move to a greater heights and we can never come down”

Comrade Bunu used the opportunity to assure maritime industry stakeholders and heads of agencies that the union under his watch is not out to antagonise management, but for all to be on same page and work at same page of to ensuring workers welfare.

“Without the Dockworkers and the seafarers there can be no revenue for the Federal government from the maritime sector

“Without us, the Customs officers cannot generate the huge revenue record they celebrate today, we are appealing to the Federal Government to prioritise the Dockworkers because if they don’t offload the ship, no customs officer can lift cargo on their heads” Bunu stated.

He explained the choice of taking the election to Warri, Delta State, saying that the State is a maritime state after Lagos and Port Harcourt. Apart from this, the Delta State born Labour leader noted that the venue would allow Dockworkers in Warri to interact with their colleagues from Lagos, Port Harcourt and other ports.

Also speaking, outgoing President of the Dockworkers Branch, Comrade Ibrahim Tajudeen Ohize appreciated members of the union and his cabin crew for standing with him in the past eight years.

He said “The person I am handing over to today is Bolaji Agboola, I handed over to him as District Chairman in Apapa and I am handing over to him today as President.
The people i love most are the Dockworkers, we don’t bear grudges, we can fight, but whenever we fight, in the next 2 hours, we are back to friends”

“I could not do it all, but i believe Bolaji would continue from where I stopped. He is a God fearing man, he is not a tribal person, and I pray that God will give him the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the union.

While addressing the newly elected Dockworkers President, Comrade Ohize said “Bolaji, do not allow anyone to change you, you are a man of your words, and you behave very well, remain who you are, and God will bless you.

Delivering goodwill messsges, the immediate past President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju congratulated the outgone Dockworkers President, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize, saying that he has suckled from his breast of leadership.

“Ohize has made me proud, I handed over to him as President of the Dockworkers Branch and today he is doing the same. I want to dis-abuse the minds of those that think that all is not well between us, all is well. We can disagree on principle and agree, and life goes on. You have learned alot of leadership qualities from me and I congratulate you today.

“The Dockworkers needs to be celebrated, after the oil sector, the maritime lays the golden eggs, but without the Dockworkers we cannot talk about maritime, so we deserve to be more celebrated and taken care of” Comrade Adeyanju stated.

Also delivering goodwill messsges, NIMASA’s head of Maritime Services Central Zone, Warri Delta State, Aliyu Bolaji Maroof, thanked the union for the cordial relationship enjoyed in the Central zone. He assured that the doors of the central zone is always open for continued relationship with the union.

On his part, Dahiru Mohammed, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Port Manager Delta port stated that the partnership with MWUN has guaranteed industrial peace at the Delta Ports. The management of NPA commended the outgoing leadership for its commitment to workers welfare.

He charged the incoming leadership to raise the bar and not frustrate the opportunities in the sector.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Dockworkers Branch President, Comrade Bolaji Agboola vowed to lead the union with integrity and to continue protecting the interest and welfare of workers.