Maritime workers threaten strike over plans to name INTELS national terminal

Workers in the maritime sector under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have threatened to shut down ports operations in the country if the Federal Government does not stop an alleged plot to designate INTELS Terminal, Onne, Free Zone Ports, in Rivers State, as national terminal for the clearance of heavy cargos and deep draught vessels.

MWUN issued the threat at the end of its recent Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, warning that the plan if implemented will cause thousands  of dockworkers their jobs, among other consequences.

In the communiqué signed by Aham Ubani, the union general secretary, the workers said, “We are alarmed by the Seaport Terminal Operators Association (STOA) publication in the media on October 17, 2014 on the developments arising from the recent commissioning of phase 4 Intels project at Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Ports which has to do with, among others, the references made in the various addresses to the new operational capacity developed in the phase 4 project and the attendant attainment of 15 meters chart datum in the Berth and insinuations about a plot to designate the INTELS Terminal, a National Terminal for the clearance of heavy lift cargos and deep draught vessels.

“While we are not going to talk about the implications of these insinuations or developments to other terminal operators, because they are in a better position to talk about how it will affects them, we are much concerned about the job implications and job security of our members.

“As was pointed out by STOA, there is no doubt if this is approved, it will have grave implications for job creations and job security of our members in the maritime industry. This, as a union, will not be tolerated under any guise.

“We have a lot of our members working with stevedoring companies in the midstream or offshore operations with vessels. Maybe we have to once again, remind those pushing for this policy that the reasons for the appointment of stevedoring companies to midstream and offshore terminals, like the STOAN clearly started in its publication, was to create jobs and address youth “restiveness as part of programme to sustain the amnesty offered insurgents during Niger Delta militancy era,” it said.