TENSION AT TIN CAN PORT:

There was anxiety yesterday at the 'Second Gate' area of the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, when dockworkers under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) engaged truck drivers, who are members of the Joint Council of Seaport Truckers (JCOST) over collection of tolls at the port.

The JCOST comprises of: Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) and the Truck Drivers Unit of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Our correspondent learnt yesterday that trouble started in the morning after dockworkers allegedly chased members of JCOST away from the gate and the port environment, and took over collection of levies from trucks leaving the port.

The corresponding build up was later abated as leaders of the warring parties reportedly moved in to douse tension.
And giving an insight into what transpired in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of JCOST, Mr. Kayode Odunowo alleged that the dockworkers had stormed the port environment and had chased out all the representatives of JCOST stationed at the port.

Odunowo who spoke via telephone stated that it is wrong for dockworkers to leave their jobs inside the port to come outside the gate to collect money under false pretense of clearing traffic at the port gate.

"When I intervened, they claimed that the traffic on that road is too much and that everybody is complaining, meanwhile, for the past two weeks the Tin Can gate has been very free of traffic, courtesy our union and the new DPO at Tin Can port", he explained.

"We have asked our members to stop giving them any money with immediate effect" he said.

Odunowo however accused the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) security personnel, the Navy and other security officials at the port gate for being responsible for the frequent traffic gridlock. According to him, the officials normally collect bribes just to allow trucks stay on the road.

He however said that a meeting has been scheduled for today (Thursday) with the Dockworkers Branch President of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.

Also confirming the face-off to Shipping Position Daily, Chairman of RTEAN; Alhaji Isiaka Olalere said that the dockworkers actually chased the truck driver unions away from the Tin Can gate.

Olalere told our correspondent also via telephone that the MWUN claimed that they are the rightful union to collect tolls from truck drivers around the port.

"The money we collect at the port are dues from our members, all the trucks operating at the port are supposed to be member of JCOST, so where does MWUN come in", he asked.

"We even have MWUN among the JCOST in order for peace to reign, even though we know it is not right, for two days now they have disrupted our operations at the port" he claimed.

Olalere also confirmed that the scheduled meeting between the leadership of the MWUN. The meeting according to him was called by MWUN and it is going to be at a venue chosen by the union.

However, when contacted, the Dockworkers Branch President of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju explained that the issue was between the NPA unit of the union’s branch and JCOST. He also confirmed that they have a meeting with the unit tomorrow.
He however assured that there was no cause for alarm.