MWUN Says NIMASA Has Failed in ISPS Code Implementation

Dockworkers under the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have expressed fears, saying that Nigerian ports are currently vulnerable to attacks due to the non-implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Code (ISPS)
The workers alleged that the Designated Authority (DA) for ISPS Code in Nigeria, that is,the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has failed in the implementation of the code at Nigerian ports and terminals.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting called by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside in Lagos on Monday, President General of MWUN, Comrade Tony Nted represented by Secretary General of the union, Comrade Abudulllahi‎ Eroje called on NIMASA to resuscitate the dockworkers pool which was scrapped by former DG of the apex agency; Barrister Mfom Usoro.
Buttressing the union’s position, the maritime workers president lamented that Nigerian ports are currently porous and lacks crowd control, and that anybody can easily gain access into the ports.
“The maritime sector is a security zone and this is why implementation of the ISPS code is important, but as we speak‎ we don’t think that law is being implemented in the maritime industry”
“The union wants NIMASA to look at the restoration of the dockworkers pool‎, it is should be revived all over the country, if you travel out, this is what is implemented, port area is not where everybody walks into”
“We had it in place, but all of a sudden during the tenure of Barr. Mfom Usoro‎, since it was scrapped, dockworkers are now subjected to roaming around the gate before they are bussed into the port”, Nted stated.
‎While speaking further on the looming danger at the ports due to non-implementation of the ISPS Code, Nted alleged that private jetties in the country have been hijacked by certain powers.
According to him, there are lots of private jetties scattered across the country which do not allow dockworkers or stevedoring contractors‎ carry out their jobs in their terminal.
“Private jetties in the country as we speak, belong to powers-that- be and they don’t allow stevedore contractors appointed to handle their activities, they are more powerful than the government, and you know these avenues can be used to infiltrate the country”
“NIMASA should also implement total compliant with the manning scheme, we had the manning scheme in place and the minimum standard of condition of service for dockworkers; as we speak, most terminal owners don’t respect Nigerian dockworkers”
“NIMASA has failed in the registration of dockworkers, most people coming into the system to work are not registered, we strongly appeal to you to put necessary measures in place for registration”
‎Nted equally appealed to the NIMASA DG to intervene in the current plan by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to phase out the functions of tally clerks and on-board security men.
He argued that these categories of dockworkers are doing a very wonderful work in the port.
“The consignee brings in the cargo, the shipping company helps to clear the cargo, but the tally clerk records the actual throughput that actually enters the country, but as it is now, some people want these functions to be scrapped and this is a security risk to this country‎”, he argued.