Sack Underperforming Terminal Operators At Seaports, Union Urges Tinubu

The Marítime branch of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has asked President Bola Tinubu to sack underperforming terminal operators at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking to newsmen, the president of SSASCGOC, Com. Akin Bodunde expressed displeasure over the poor performance of some terminal operators.

According to Com. Bodunde, only operators who have added value to the growth of the port system and the environment should be considered for renewal.

Com. Bodunde disclosed that operators such as PTML and SIFAX have improved in their facilities, while others have refused to make investments in the terminal.

“There are some that are not meeting up. They are just making money. They have not contributed to the development of the port. Generally, we know them and we have seen some whose contracts will not be renewed. Because some of their agreements are coming to an end now.

Since 2006, some are 25 years, some are 20 years, but they are all elapsing. And we are saying that the people who have not added value to the port, their contracts should not be renewed. While people who have added value to the port development, port facilities, the federal government should renew their concession contracts. That means they are doing well, but some of them are not doing well. We will not mention names, but they know themselves. They are not doing well.”

Comrade Akin Bodunde pointed out that all the government-owned seaports are old and due for rehabilitation, and that was why the Federal Government granted the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) approval to take a World Bank loan. According to him, the newest government-owned seaport, Tin Can Island Port, was built in 1976.

The SSASCGOC President said “Ports need to be rehabilitated. Thank God, the government has approved the rehabilitation. The issue is that if you go to Lekki Port and see the beauty of Lekki Port, you cannot compare it with our ports.

The newest port was built in 1976. You are talking about a port that was built many years ago. They are old and they need to be rehabilitated. That was why the Federal Government approved for us to borrow money from the World Bank, about 700 million dollars, to rehabilitate the port.

“The basement of our ports is eroded by sea water and we need to rebuild it.  Every port is computerised. Our own is not. Those are the things they want to spend the money on. We need to raise the level of the port activities and the  port infrastructure generally in line with the international standard.”

While praising the present leadership of the NPA under Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho for a good performance since his appointment as the Managing Director in 2024.

On Dantsoho’s performance, Bodunde said, “Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is not a stranger in NPA. He is one of those who started in NPA and since he assumed the leadership of NPA, he has been trying.

“On the issue of welfare, he has tried because he has promoted general managers, he has promoted about 57 assistant general managers and has done outstanding promotion over two years, 2023-2024, which is about 1,500 workers. We did the exam last year and the result was released. Those promotions have been there for the past 3 years.

“When you talk about welfare and the performance of Dantsoho and the current executive management, I think they have tried. The only problem we have is that the government issues, not giving us what is due to us in terms of finance.  We make money, but do we benefit from that money? No.”