Not long ago, some members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, were murdered in cold blood following a violent invasion of Lagos ports by suspected thugs brought from outside the ports.
Last week, there was mayhem at the Tin Can Port when truckers clashed with members of the Lagos State Cargo and Transport Committee, LASTCOC.
Since the violent clash stakeholders including MWUN, the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and other transport associations under the aegis of Nexus Association of Maritime Truck Operators, NAMTOP, have met severally to find a solution to the frequent violent attacks on the ports by thugs and miscreants from outside the ports.
The meetings culminated in a peace deal signed at the National Secretariat of MWUN with the representatives of Marine Police Command and Tin Can Port management in attendance as observers.
Speaking at the peace accord meeting, the President General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, recalled the killing of four members of MWUN, saying the union had no grudges against LASTCOC carrying out its mandates in ports but that due process and the rule of law must be followed because the port is a regulated area.
He said among others, "The port is a regulated area, if you want to operate there, you must have a legitimate business. It is not a garage where you can use it for your selfish interest.
"It is good to have collaboration that is why today we have NARTO, NAMTOP, and MWUN. I don't want us to focus on the Lagos State for now. These three prominent bodies are the only collaboration that we have introduced to all stakeholders in the Port and we have the backing of the authorities.
"Our Union is not against the Lagos State Committee (LASTCOC) but due process must be followed. We are not saying that we would not work with them. However, the rule of law that established the port must be followed.
"There is an existing Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, among all the associations working at the port under the aegis of NAMTOP. We have responsible workers who can support this collaboration. So, we don't need any external forces from Ijora, Idi-Oro, Akala in Mushin to come and ferment trouble at the port
"This collaboration is born out of the need to protect the business of truck owners from constant extortion by security agencies on the port corridor. But our annoyance is now the incessant attacks on the port. Two years ago, we lost four of our members as a result of this representative of the Lagos State Government bringing external forces to attack the port. The Maritime Workers Union would be fully factored into this collaboration.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
"I have appealed to all the dockworkers and our haulage unit that they should allow peace to reign. But if anyone tries to introduce hooliganism into the collaboration, we shall pull out."
Also speaking, Otunba Leye Thompson noted that "NAMTOP is now the unified body of all truckers at the port. According to him, nine well-known associations decided to come together to form NAMTOP.
The body is fully registered. It is important that truckers and MWUN form a strong bond, without that bond, we cannot head anywhere."
Chairman of LASTCOC, Lukman Zangalo, in his remarks, among others said "There is no need for us to fight ourselves because both the MWUN and the truckers are one. I am the Chairman of LASTCOC and I am also the chairman of NAMTOP.
"I believe that with LASTCOC and our own NAMTOP, with the support of our President-General (Prince Adeyanju) and the elders, everything would be resolved and we shall work together successfully."
Other stakeholders who spoke at the meeting included; Maroof Raheem BOT of NAMTOP, Ishola Salami, representative of the Port Police Commissioner; Ojo Alex who is officer in charge of CP monitoring unit, among others.
