The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to probe the activities of Ibeto Jetty and Rivers Port.
This, the centre said, would ensure a level playing field for all players according to the law. Speaking at a press briefing, yesterday, the centre’s Executive Director of Media, Jacob Okpanachi, said that unregistered dock workers are currently operating foreign vessels.
According to him, the activities have diverted government revenues, which run into billions of naira, while shortchanging the legitimate registered dock workers of their wages.
Okpanachie said: “We want to publicly share with Nigerians our feelings, frustrations and pains about happenings in Rivers Port, which the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) seems to have turned a blind eye to.”
“In the past year, we have received several petitions from concerned Nigerians on the alleged illegal labour operations at the Ibeto Jetty.
“The arrangement stems from the erroneous approval granted to Ibeto Jetty to operate as a port, as a result of the disingenuous advice of the former Port Manager, through the former Executive Director of Marine and Operations.”
