Maritime workers have announced plans to withdraw their services at terminal facilities in Lagos ports due to the Federal Government’s failure to revamp the deteriorating quay apron, which is threatening operations and workforce safety.
The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Dr Adeyanju Adewale, made this known during a press briefing in Apapa, where he assessed the maritime sector’s performance over the past eight years.
Adewale expressed concern over the collapsed quay apron at Tin Can Island and Five Star Logistics Terminal in Lagos ports, lamenting that despite changes in government, port management issues remain largely unaddressed.
He recalled that discussions on port rehabilitation have been ongoing for years, with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) seeking funds to commence the project. However, no investor has come forward to finance the repairs needed.
He criticised the NPA for abandoning the facilities for four years, warning that the neglect has endangered workers’ lives and led to declining productivity due to hazardous working conditions.
“The quay apron is nothing to write home about. If urgent action is not taken, our members may soon be unable to work in that terminal due to the poor conditions,” he warned.
Adewale referenced previous commitments by the NPA, stating that former Managing Director Mohammed Bello-Koko had assured stakeholders that a major rehabilitation contract had been awarded. However, he questioned the project’s progress, noting that the ports remain outdated despite promises made last year.
Comparing Nigeria’s ports to those in neighbouring countries, he pointed out that even smaller ports in Cotonou, Benin Republic, have superior infrastructure.
He urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritise port modernisation to prevent Nigeria from falling further behind in regional maritime competitiveness.
“We pray that the president of this country will put his eyes on the ports so that we do not continue lagging,” he said.
Adewale also highlighted the union’s achievements under his leadership, emphasising progress in workers’ welfare, industry standards and infrastructure development in the maritime sector.
He noted that MWUN successfully secured a Minimum Standard for Conditions of Service in the shipping sector, setting a benchmark minimum wage of N200,000 for shipping workers.
Similarly, the dockworkers’ Minimum Standard for Conditions of Service has seen regular upgrades through the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), leading to unprecedented wage levels in the dock labour industry.
He further stated that Nigerian seafarers now enjoy the most competitive welfare package in the industry. Under his administration, the union also broke an 18-year stagnation in remuneration for NPA workers, securing their highest pay increase in over two decades.
Adewale revealed that efforts are at an advanced stage to pay the disengagement benefits owed to retired seafarers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), bringing long-overdue relief to affected workers.
Adewale added that MWUN has strengthened its global standing by aligning with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and has shifted from confrontational advocacy to dialogue-based resolutions, ensuring peace and stability in the maritime sector.
Additionally, he said the union has partnered with key industry stakeholders such as NARTO and AMATO to enhance maritime and haulage operations as well as signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Joint National Transport Safety Committee of Nigeria (JNTSCN) to improve road haulage safety.
