The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has observed with deep concern the alarming neglect of safety standards and protocols by Stevedoring Contractors, Terminal Operators, and other port users across seaports, terminals, jetties, and oil platforms in Nigeria.
The Union in a statement said the negligence has resulted in an unacceptable rate of avoidable deaths and permanent injuries among its members, who are exposed daily to the hazardous nature of port operations.
According to the statement, amongst many of such avoidable accidents occurred on December 25, 2024 at Berth 9, Tincan Island Port, when Com. Kazeem Adeshina, was crushed to death due to negligence on the path of his employer.
“Despite repeated calls for improved safety measures, many operators have failed to adequately provide critical safety infrastructure such as personal protective equipment (PPE), communication gadgets, first aid kits, ambulances, and trained safety officers in operational areas.
“This lack of compliance with basic safety protocols endangers not only the lives of our members but also the efficiency and sustainability of the Maritime Industry.
“The MWUN condemns in totality this disregard for human lives and safety, which has led to the needless loss of our members and placed their families in perpetual sorrow.
“We cannot continue to tolerate a system where the safety and well-being of workers are treated as secondary considerations,” the statement read in part.
“As a responsible union, we hereby declare a state of emergency on non-provision of safety materials and personnel and lack of compliance to safety standards and protocols by stevedores engaged by terminal operators, in all seaports, terminals, jetties and oil and gas platforms and call on all concerned government agencies to take note and act accordingly as failure to enforce safety standards which lead to avoidable accidents in ports operation will elicit the withdrawal of the services of our members from all port activities nation – wide,” the statement declared.