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MWUN Sues For Strict Safety Regulations In Port Operations

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President General, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Francis Bunu, has expressed concern over the safety of workers in port terminals, vessels and dockyards, calling for stricter regulatory oversight and operational discipline across the maritime industry.

Bunu also raised concerns over the use of unseaworthy barges and other unsafe watercraft in the country’s inland waterways and employees and workers’ disregard for safety in the maritime sector.

Speaking during an Interactive Session with the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos, recently, Bunu provided a detailed overview of his leadership agenda since assuming office, noting that his administration has embarked on a nationwide tour of terminals, shipping companies and dockyards to promote safety awareness among maritime workers.

“When we came into office, we discovered there were too many accident cases involving dockworkers. Safety is everybody’s business, not just for employers or the government, but for every worker, who values their life and livelihood,” he said.

He explained that the union’s nationwide sensitisation tour was designed to instil safety consciousness among workers and remind them that negligence at the workplace could lead to avoidable loss of lives.

Bunu further outlined the union’s progress in advancing the welfare of maritime workers across its four key sectors, including dockworkers, seafarers, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) employees and shipping sector workers.

The MWUN boss said the union has also been proactive in resolving accident-related cases, improving compensation for victims and ensuring compliance with labour standards by employers.

“In the Dockworkers’ sector, we have handled several accident cases and ensured compensation. The welfare of our members is improving because we now engage management directly and ensure the right things are done,” he noted.

Bunu commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its ongoing efforts to phase out single-hull vessels, urging similar regulatory enforcement for smaller vessels and barges to prevent accidents and loss of lives.

Speaking on the status of the Federal Government’s payment of gratuities to the disengaged seafarers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) since 1995, Bunu confirmed that verification and recommendations had been concluded, adding that the file is now before the Federal Ministry of Finance for final approval.

“We believe the present administration will do justice to it and ensure the affected workers get their entitlements soon,” he stated. Bunu reaffirmed his administration’s focus on prioritising workers’ interests, improving their welfare and fostering a responsible, law-abiding maritime labour environment.

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Maritime

NPA Vows To Sustain Sanity On Port Access Roads  ……Deploys ETO To Enhance Truck Movement 

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November 3, 2025

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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated it’s commitment to preventing a return to the severe Apapa gridlock that previously plaqued the Lagos ports access roads.
It said the electronic truck call- up system ( ETO) has been recently reviewed and enhanced to integrate terminal gates directly with the ETO platform.
Speaking in reaction to media reports on the resurgence of gridlock on port access roads, Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Adebowale Lawal, said the NPA, in line with its mandate to ensure the smooth operation of port activities and the free flow of traffic around the Apapa Port Complex corridor, remained fully committed to maintaining order and preventing any reoccurrence of the gridlock previously experienced along the access roads.
“We have recently undertaken a review and enhancement of the ETO system, which now integrates Terminal Gates directly with the ETO platform.
“This integration is designed to provide a structured sequencing of truck movements, both inbound and outbound within the Apapa Port Complex.
“The objective of this initiative is to ensure transparency, improve traffic efficiency, and maintain a sustainable operating environment around the ports.
“However, the success of this system depends largely on the cooperation and compliance of all Stakeholders, including Terminal Operators, Transport Unions, Drivers, Clearing Agents, and Government Agencies (Both Federal and State).
“Sequencing truck entry and exit is not rocket science. With sincerity of purpose and commitment from all concerned, we can achieve and maintain orderliness and prevent a return to the chaotic conditions of the past.
“It is in our best interest, because smooth Ingress and Egress of Trucks will, in the long run, bring about high turnover for all stakeholders,” he stated.
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Maritime

DANTSOHO Calls For Synergy In Revamping Nation’s Ports

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November 3, 2025

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The Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority(NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has called for synergy in revamping the nation’s ports.
Dantsoho made the call shortly after the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He insisted that without collaboration amongst major actors little or nothing would be achieved in revamping the ports
“Until there is collaboration and partnership you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports”, he said.
Dantsoho highlighted steps taken by the Ports Authority to address bottlenecks faced by importers and exporters at the nation’s ports.
The MD said the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee established by the NPA is recording huge successes through the joint inspection and boarding by relevant agencies operating in the area.
He identified adoption of technology, improvement in infrastructure, human capacity building, equipment and tools, as areas that could be improved to enhance port efficiency.
This, according to him, would ensure that Nigeria remains competitive and relevant in the sub-region, continent and beyond.
Speaking at the event, the Director –  General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, called for collective resolve among stakeholders to improve port operations, making cargo clearance faster and more efficient.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee, Audi however, decried the losses incurred as a result of the inefficiency at the nation’s ports,
Audu described the committee as a platform that represents not only interagency collaboration but a shared commitment to making Nigeria’s ports globally competitive, transparent, and efficient.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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Maritime

Customs To Partner NAPTIP On Human Trafficking Menace 

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November 3, 2025

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The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) said it will collaborate with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in combating human trafficking and the illegal trade in endangered species.
The Comptroller General Cust oms, Adewale Adeniyi stated this while playing host to the Courtesy Visit by a delegation from NAPTIP, in his office, in Abuja.
He noted that Nigeria’s security challenges require joint action, as the Service does not view crimes solely through the lens of smuggling but through broader national security implications.
Adeniyi said “We believe in the power of collaboration,We can achieve more with less when we work together.”
The Comptroller General revealed that the Service has intensified its work on environmental sustainability and the enforcement of international conventions regarding flora and fauna, assured the delegation that Customs will fully collaborate on the upcoming national dialogue on human trafficking and stowaway incidents, scheduled for February 2026.
He pledged to provide technical expertise, intelligence sharing, and access to the Service’s training curriculum to strengthen inter-agency understanding of trafficking dynamics.
“We will accept your request for partnership unconditionally”
” We will work with your designated officials on the February summit and explore wider interventions that reinforce national security”, he stated.
Adeniyi commended the delegation for their continued service to the country and assured them of Customs’ unwavering support.
Earlier, the Director General, NAPTIP, Binta Adamu, expressed delight at securing formal engagement with the Customs Service.
She stated that NAPTIP was eager to strengthen operational partnerships, particularly in areas such as intelligence exchange, policy development, and cross-border enforcement.
In her words, “I am happy today that I finally made it here and held this discussion with the Comptroller-General. We are a law enforcement agency with mandates to prevent, prosecute and protect as partnership with Customs is essential for our work”
She noted that human trafficking continues to evolve, requiring close coordination among agencies operating at Nigeria’s multiple entry and exit points.
Also Speaking former Director with NIMASA; Hajia Lami Tumaka, said the visit was to seek Customs’ partnership for a one-day national policy dialogue on human trafficking by sea and stowaway incidents.
Tumaka described Customs as a “strategic player in border management and maritime enforcement,” adding that its involvement is critical to the success of the dialogue.
“Your officers are often the first line of defence against illicit movement of goods and persons. Your expertise and nationwide presence are indispensable”, she said.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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