Story by Dili Utomi.
Some stakeholders in the Maritime Sector gathered at the Osho Drive, Ajegunle Lagos office of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to deliberate on matters that are germaine to the peaceful operations within and around the Ports areas.
Members for the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Nexus Association of Maritime Transport Operators (NAMTOP) were at the meeting which also had such individuals as Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the President-General of MWUN, Moruf Ridwan, the board of trustees chairman of NAMTOP, Olaleye Thompson, the president of NAMTOP, Chief Remi Ogungbemi of AMATO, Chief Stephen Okafor, the director general, operations of the NARTO, Lukman Shittu also known as Zangalo, committee chairman of the Lagos State Trucks and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), the representative of the Commissioner of Marine Police, DSP Ahmed Ojo and lot more personalities in attendance.
The crux of the matter was the resolution of the crisis that resulted in fracas last week which claimed the life of one with many more injured at the first gate of the Tin Can Island Port. The meeting was also aimed at consolidating the proposed collaboration and chart a better way forward for all stakeholders for what one of the participants called “permanent peace” and also for efficient operations at the Ports.
Kicking off the meeting after the usual protocols was Mr. Moruf Ridwan who stated that “we started this race last year to study the situation at the Ports and find ways to collaborate to make the Ports work more efficiently. There are bad elements at the Ports, but we need to join hands together to bring sanity to the situation”.
Stephen Okafor chipped in that “we are committed to the race as the collaboration has come to stay to stem the tide of issues bedeviling our business”.
Chief Remi Ogungbemi says “we are here to talk peace as even animals understand the vital importance of peace. We need permanent peace and should work towards it for the progress of all our businesses” He also called out MWUN for the court judgement against his association, but also expressed the optimism that everything will be sorted out on the day.
Mr. Ishola Salami of NAMTOP noted that a most important ingredient for the business to grow is peace as he urged everyone to work towards peaceful co-existence.
Otunba Olaleye Thompson also added his voice as he says that NAMTOP is solidly behind MWUN in the collaboration. He said that he has been in the Maritime sector for about forty four years and will be glad to see smooth operations at the Ports.
Lukman Shittu Zangalo of LASTCOC noted that “we are not supposed to be fighting each other as we are one big family”.
The representative of the Tin Can Island Port manager, Patrick Halim says that the message he brought from his principal is “peace, peace, peace”.
The President-General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju in his address said that the Port is a regulated area and not a market place for all comers. Marriage can be conducted and you have a divorce, but the MWUN/NARTO/NAMTOP collaboration has come to stay and the authorities are aware of this agreement.
His words “Our Union is not against any action by the Lagos State government, but what we are saying is that the they should uphold the rule of law and follow due process. Today, we have agreed according to the memorandum of understanding that we signed to collaborate and work with one mind. We do not need external forces being brought in to come and destabilise the processes at the Ports. About two years ago, we lost four members who were attacked by some of these persons brought in from outside. The Lagos State government should be very careful for the Port is a regulated area”.
PG Adeyanju added that the proliferation of toll points is not good and should be not be encouraged and that is why they have agreed to have a single and collaborative understanding with all the Unions interests factored in. MWUN, he said dissociates itself from acts where people will be brought in from other states to cause mayhem at the Ports. On the issue of the court judgement spoken about by Chief Ogungbemi, the PG said that the cases are not against AMATO, but against the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Some persons from the collaboratiing associations were named in a committee to enforce the contents of the agreement reached in the course of the collaboration, they innclude Messers Taofeek, Bidemi, Ola, Ayinde, Mukaila, Lawal, Wole Adekunmi and others. Mr Adekunmi spoke on behalf of the committee members and promised to work towards the success of the committee and ultimately the collaboration.
At the questions and answers session, Moruf Ridwan said that something is being done about the incessant and rampant extortion carried out against operators and that the committee will soon hit the ground running to stop these extortions.
On the questions of sharing formular for revenue, Otunba Olaleye Thompson also said that there is nothing to be shared as what they collect are check up dues from members.
It is left to be seen whether as someone asked “if this is peace of the graveyard, a lasting peace or permanent peace”. The public wants to see proper functioning of the Ports to meet with International standards.
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