Port operators lose N20 billion to one-day strike

Olayiwola Shittu, President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Thursday said close to N20 billion was lost to the one-day strike by the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The union went on strike on Wednesday over the plan by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to lay off tally clerks and onboard security men and other issues.

He said that there were losses by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); the licensed customs agents; the shipping companies; the terminal operators; and the transporters.

Shittu said those who went on strike had their reasons for doing so but should ensure that the strike “does not affect operations at the ports’’.

“They (the workers) must avoid disrupting port operations,’’ the customs agent said.

Jonathan Nicol, President, Shippers Association, Lagos State, said the shippers lost millions of Naira to the strike, due to the inability to access their cargo.

Nicol advised that there should be collective bargaining rather than allowing the situation to degenerate into a strike.

According to him, at the end of the day, both parties will still go back to either bargaining or reconciliation.

Fred Ajuzie, Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Apapa Port Chapter, said everybody that had things to do at the ports were affected by the strike.

Ajuze said importers had been asked to pay demurrage as a result of the strike.

“Is no too good to go on strike but people’s view should be heard. The strike has affected government’s revenue and some stakeholders’ income,’’ he said.

(NAN)