18 September 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – THE Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has petitioned Minister of Transport over alleged illegal activities of some shipping and multinational companies within the nation’s territorial waters.
MWUN also called on the government to order an investigation into the activities of offshore operators failing which it threatened to shut down port operations across the country.
According to the union, the activities of some shipping firms, multinational oil companies and other companies specialising in anchoring and operating vessels offshore are in contravention of the conditions governing operations in the nation’s territorial waters.
In the petition letter to the transport minister, the union alleged that the affected companies operate offshore/midstream without the mandatory approval of the transport ministry.
In the petition letter, the union also referred to refusal by affected companies to pay the statutory Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, charges and stevedoring bills, thereby giving rise to loss of employment to Dockworkers and loss of revenue to the government.
The letter signed by the Union’s President, Antony Nted, and Secretary, Aham Ubani, urged the government to call the affected companies to order failing which the union would be left with no other choice than to down tool.
