The National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) said on Monday that foreigners had taken over most stevedoring services in the country.

The President of the association, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the foreign companies have taken over stevedoring operations, instead of leaving it for Nigerians.

Sunmola said that port operations could not go smoothly without the operations of the stevedoring companies.

He said there was an urgent need to have a meeting with the Minister of Transport, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, on challenges of stevedoring companies.

“The meeting would create an avenue to discuss the possibility of employment generation in the maritime sector through the stevedoring companies.

“Apart from the meeting we had with the minister in January, there is need for an in depth discussion between the minister and the stevedoring companies.”

He described stevedoring companies as the drivers of the industry.

“The stevedores are the people in charge of loading and offloading of cargoes from the ship to the quay side.

“We (association) felt that such a group of people have vital contributions to make toward the nation’s maritime development.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Amaechi.