Even as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service has declared him wanted and in the midst of a barrage of negative media reports against him, allegedly notorious Chairman Pararika Unit, Dockworkers Branch of the Maritime Workers Union, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT); Alhaji Sharafadeen Oguntoyinbo popularly known as "Sharafa" has debunked all allegations leveled against him as being a menace to Tin Can Island port.
Even as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service has declared him wanted and in the midst of a barrage of negative media reports against him, allegedly notorious Chairman Pararika Unit, Dockworkers Branch of the Maritime Workers Union, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT); Alhaji Sharafadeen Oguntoyinbo popularly known as "Sharafa" has debunked all allegations leveled against him as being a menace to Tin Can Island port.
He has been alleged for notoriety at the port, but the top dockworker affirmed that the big wigs in freight forwarding practise are maligning him, undeservedly.
Determined to unmasked ‘Sharafa’ disclosed to Shipping Position Daily trailed him last week to an event where, curiously he was given an award for industrial peace.
He explained that clearing agents are always looking for an avenue to disrupt operational activities at the port but, explained that he always revolt against their actions, this, according to him, led to his being blackmail by agents.
Sharafa said that is a friend to all customs officers at the port urging the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi to make enquires from the area controllers that have served within Tin Can port.
The Chairman Pararika Unit of the dockworkers branch vowed in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily that he has never been involved in clearing of containers out of the port and does not vandalise containers from any of the terminals at Tin Can Island, as being alleged.
He described TICT as his "firm which agents are willing to destroy”, but vowed that he will never allow such to happen under his watch as the chairman of dockowrkers.
Sharafa who bagged an award from Corporate Citizen Communication Limited said that the face- off at TICT between a top female customs officer and agents recently made him to order his men to bar agents from gaining entrance to the port.
He disclosed that clearing agents hate him because of what he stands for and that he was being blackmailed by a section of port users.
He lauded the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria; Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel and his branch president Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for their support when the reports were making the rounds.
He also said that, apart from being a core labour leader in the port, he is also into oil and gas and into properties and has never been involved in freight forwarding practise.
Sharafa also pointed accusing fingers at members of the freight forwarding associations for attempting to bring about industrial unrests in the port, but stressed that they (agents) don't have what it takes to shutdown the ports.
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