The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to move against port concessionare; APM Termina over the blockage of the Apapa port by trucks bearing empty containers and seeking access into the terminal.
The union in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday and signed by its Deputy Secretary General, Edwin Sambo, the Labour union gave APM Terminals, a 14 day ultimatum to free the port access roads leading to the premier ports.
He said the union was deeply concerned and disturbed by truck drivers blockage of the roads in quest to deliver empty containers at the terminal.
He lamented that as a result of the blockage of the port access road, workers, Port users and the public in general trek long distance for hours before accessing the Port and their work place.
The union said that the blockage also impedes the Federal Government Executive order of doing business with ease at the Nation’s Seaports.
"We are deeply concerned and seriously disturbed by the blockage of the Apapa Port Access road with empty containers in the quest for delivery at your terminal"
"The situation renders movement inside and outside the Port impassable with traffic always at a standstill"
"Economic and social activities within the area are also negatively affected with business at its lowest ebb"
"The security of lives and properties in and around the environment has deteriorated so much so that rape and brigandage have become the order of the day"
The union noted that the traffic gridlock has worsened the already existing Apapa gridlock which the Lagos State and Federal Agencies are still battling to contain.
Giving APMT a stern warning, MWUN said "Your management is hereby given a fourteen (14) day Notice of Ultimatum from the date of this letter to put all necessary arrangement in motion to ensure that the blockage caused by the empty containers are totally cleared at the end of this notice for business and other port related activities to resume at the Port"
"Please be informed that we shall not be held liable for whatever action we might deem fit to take in the event of your refusal to get off the road your empty containers" It stated.
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