The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has lamented the alarming neglect of safety standards and protocols in seaports, terminals, jetties, and oil platforms across Nigeria, declaring a state of emergency over the situation.
The union in a press statement signed by its Deputy Secretary General, Oniha Erazua, expressed grave concerns over the rising number of avoidable deaths and permanent injuries among maritime workers, attributing the trend to the lack of adequate safety measures in the industry.
In a strongly-worded statement, the MWUN highlighted the failure of operators to provide critical safety infrastructure, including personal protective equipment (PPE), communication gadgets, first aid kits, ambulances, and trained safety officers.
This neglect, the union stressed, has exposed workers to hazardous conditions daily, undermining their welfare and the efficiency of maritime operations.
“The disregard for safety protocols is not only endangering the lives of our members but is also detrimental to the sustainability of the maritime industry,” the union stated.
“We have repeatedly called for the enforcement of safety measures, yet many operators have failed to comply, resulting in needless tragedies and leaving families in perpetual sorrow.”
The MWUN identified several critical areas of concern, including safety infrastructure, lamenting that many operators fail to provide essential safety equipment such as PPE and first aid kits, leaving workers vulnerable to preventable injuries.
The union further stated that basic standards are routinely ignored, creating a hazardous work environment.
The union called on government agencies to enforce regulations and hold non-compliant operators accountable.
As part of its resolution, the MWUN issued a stern warning to all relevant stakeholders. “If immediate action is not taken to address these safety concerns, we will have no choice but to withdraw our services from all port activities nationwide,” the union declared.
