Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The National Association of Stevedore Operators, NASO, has said that it is not Uhuru for indigenous stevedoring companies in Nigeria as only 45 percent of the total numbers of stevedoring firms are currently engaged by some of the oil companies.
The President of NASO, Comrade Bolaji Sunmola said that there are laws guiding the operations of stevedoring in the country, adding that while nobody would want to break the law, the indigenous oil companies were the most uncooperative of the oil operating companies.
Sunmola commended both the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, for their efforts in trying to beat every stakeholder in that sector into line.
He disclosed that only about 45 percent of the local stevedoring firms are currently engaged by the IOCs adding that more could stilled be engaged because there is room for more engagement of stevedoring operators.
“We still have contending issues with the oil companies, especially the independent oil companies, they are still trying to be smart with us. But like I keep saying, thank God for NIMASA and NPA that are doing the much they can, to ensure that everyone in the sector operate within the law.
“We cannot say it is Uhuru yet, but we are still constantly engaging with each other, and ensure that the laws are obeyed and enforced to the letter. We have laws that guide the operations of stevedoring in Nigeria, and nobody should circumvent it. For me, I would say only 45 percent of stevedores are presently engaged by the oil operating companies.
“The stevedores are living up to international best practices and the oil companies have no reason to doubt the competence of operators, I am speaking as the President of the group, armed with the facts. As I speak, we have our programmes clearly mapped out.
“About three months ago, some Stevedores went to the United Kingdom for training for three weeks upgrading our knowledge and selling our expertise to the world and in the new year, we have also mapped out series of trainings, seminars for members and this will be a continuous thing.
“We are trying to relate and reference other stevedoring practices around the world. I believe where our services are required, there must be foreigners offering such stevedoring services because there are no local firms that will want to flout the laws of their land.
