Lagos Seaports Open For Operations Despite NLC Protests

Economic and commercial activities are going on without hinderances at the Lagos seaports – Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports – despite the protests embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), LEADERSHIP can report.

LEADERSHIP reports that the NLC had threatened to shut down the nation’s economy from this Wednesday, August 2, 2023 due to the total removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu government and the attendant consequences on workers as well as masses in the country.

Visits to the nation’s seaports on Wednesday showed that container-laden trucks were exiting the Apapa Port while clearing agents were seen in the various terminals going about their businesses unhindered.

Also, speaking to LEADERSHIP, the Public Relations Officer, Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin-Can Island Port, Comrade Onome Monije, confirmed that activities were going on smoothly at the Port.

Com. Monije said they thought some shipping companies would join in the NLC protest rally but they haven’t recorded any glitch in service delivery so far.

“Activities are currently going on in the seaport and I can confirm to you that cargo delivery is currently taking place. Customs officers are also conducting examination on cargoes and trucks are exiting the port. Everywhere is calm and steady,” he stated.

In a chat with journalists, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) also confirmed that the nation’s ports were not affected by the ongoing nationwide protest and strike action led by the NLC.

However, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said the union had joined its other Comrades to stage the protest at Lagos State Government Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja.

He confirmed that negotiation meetings with the Federal Government were still ongoing to deliberate on the proposed palliatives for workers to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.

“It is a protest and not a total shutdown, the Ports are working. As I speak with you, commercial activities are going on. I have directed that the Ports must not be shut. Since this is a protest, we have taken the protest to the Government Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, that is where we are right now,” Comrade Adeyanju stated.