Maritime
Disengaged Dock Workers Suspend Protest
Disengaged dockworkers of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt Port that embarked on a peaceful protest on Monday following the non-payment of their entitlements since 1991 has suspended their protest and gave the management seven days ultimatum to work out the modalities for payment or to think a next line of action.
The protest was suspended as a result of the outcome of a meeting between the NPA Management and the union leaders of the aggrieved former workers held in Lagos and agreed to settled all their entitlements in the shortest possible time.
The Tide correspondent reports that the retrenched dockworkers numbering over 200 gathered at the entrance of the NPA, Port Harcourt Port Complex last Monday to protest against the inhuman treatment the management had been given to them, but decided to shelve their plans when their leaders after a deliberation with the authorities asked them to suspend their planned action as the authorities have accepted to meet up their demands.
Our correspondent further reports that during the protest last Monday, the branch Vice Chairman of the disengaged Dockworkers in Port Harcourt, Mr Okon David Okponung lamented over the plight of the members said several attempts made for the management to pay them their entitlement failed before they took them to High court in Lagos in 1996 and later to the Supreme Court, where on May 11, 2007, the presiding judge also ruled in their favour and ordered the NPA management to pay the retrenched workers their benefits including pension and gratuity, but that since after the judgement, the management refused to comply with the order.
It was also learnt that the case was also brought before the Attorney General and Miniser of Justice, Muhammed Bello Adoke, who requested the management of NPA to furnish him with details of payment modalities, his request was also turned down.
A similar protest was embarked upon on December 19, 2011 nationwide where the disengaged workers blocked entrances to the NPA gates, paralyzing work at the various ports.
Narrating their ordeals to The Tide correspondent during last Monday peaceful protest, some of the retrenched workers said it had been untold hardship and suffering for their families as they have no other means of survival.
Mr Acapu Thompson, a former Assistant fitter of Engineering Department of NPA, said the non-payment of their entitlements has seriously affected his daily living as he cannot even send his children to university because the wife who had been catering for the family up keep could not afford and appealed to the management to consider their plight.
A 57 year old former management services and development department staff, under Container Terminal as senior clerical officer, Mr Benard Ebom, who lost his wife, Olivia on January 13, last year due to the hardship also pleaded with the authority to obey the Supreme Court Judgement and pay their entitlements.
It was gathered that June 18, 2012 marks 21 years two weeks since their retrenched and over nine of their members lost their lives within this year because of hardship, as some have been thrown out of their rented houses.
Collins Barasimeye
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.