Panic has gripped port operators following an industrial accident that claimed the life of a dockworker, Kazeem Adeshina, on December 25, 2024, at Berth 9, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

In response to the tragedy, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has declared a state of emergency over the non-provision of safety materials, lack of safety personnel, and the absence of safety protocols by stevedores employed by terminal operators.

Labour leaders in the maritime industry have been holding a series of meetings to discuss the appropriate response to hazardous working conditions in seaports, terminals, jetties, and oil platforms. These discussions have raised concerns about a potential industrial unrest due to unsafe working environments.

The MWUN has expressed ongoing concerns about alleged unsafe conditions in the maritime sector, particularly at the country?s seaports and oil platforms.

Since December 26, MWUN leaders have engaged in intensive talks to address the issue. Speaking on the hazardous working environments, Deputy Secretary General of MWUN, Oniha Erazua, said:

?We have 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. This negligence has led to an unacceptable number of avoidable deaths and permanent injuries among our members, who are exposed daily to the hazardous nature of port operations.?

Erazua pointed out that one such tragic incident occurred on December 25, when Comrade Kazeem Adeshina was crushed to death at Tincan Island Port due to negligence by 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,? Erazua said.

He emphasized that the lack of compliance with basic safety protocols not only jeopardizes the lives of workers but also threatens the efficiency and sustainability of the maritime industry.

The MWUN condemned the disregard for worker safety, which has led to unnecessary fatalities and placed families in mourning. The union called for immediate action, warning that failure to enforce safety standards would result in the withdrawal of services by its members across all port activities nationwide. (Vanguard)