Nigeria: Dearth Of Seafarers, Investors Threat To Industry – Maritime Workers

Dearth Of Seafarers, Investors Threat To Industry – Maritime Workers
YUSUF BABALOLA January 18, 2019 https://leadership.ng/2019/01/18/dearth-of-seafarers-investors-threat-to...

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has bemoaned the high number of investors that deserted the maritime industry in 2018 over the bad state of the port access roads and insecurities on the nation’s water.

This was disclosed by the president general of the union, Com. Adewale Adeyanju, in a chat with LEADERSHIP over the weekend. Adeyanju, who stated that the government should ensure prompt repair of the Tin-Can Island road leading to the port for investors who had exit the port to return.

“Our expectations for the maritime industry is very high in the sense that what we have lost last year we pray this year will be better than last year. The road to tin can island should be repaired too. The port access road to Mile 2 should be repaired so as to bring back the investors that have left the country.

“We know we lost so many investors because of the bad roads and now that the road is on the verge of completion, i think we pray for good things to happen this year,” he said. Adeyanju also raised the alarm over high rate of insecurity on the nation’s water that has led to kidnap and death of several seafarers.

According to him, insecurity -piracy and sea robbery- have contributed to job loss as shipping companies dread coming to Nigerian waters.

“I think NIMASA is doing a very good job and we pray this year they will improve on the security of the waterway.

“We have been having the challenges for some couple of months but i believe they are trying their best but we hope Nigeria government will strengthen them and empower them to do more. On piracy, i can remember last year, we lost many seafarers and we lost so many investor as a result of piracy but we pray that this year will be better than last year,” he assured.