Over 20 shipping companies have left
Nigerian shores due to intense hardship provoked by poor government
policies and global economic crunch.
According to Dockworkers Union of
Nigeria (DUN), over 3,000 workers have been already laid off by various
shipping firms, terminal operations and logistic firms, due to the lack
of financing and poor import policies of the Federal Government.
Also, the dismissed workers have said
the inability of the Federal Government to meet its joint venture
obligation with the international oil companies which are major partners
with the marine logistic companies, is responsible for the massive
retrenchment.
According to Guardian,
Mitsui O.S.K Line, Nippon Yusen Kasha, Taiwan’s Evergreen Line,
Messina Line, Hapag-Lloyd and God Star Line (GSL) are some of the
companies that have left the nation’s shore due to losses caused by
declining volumes.
The President of DUN, Anthony Emmanuel
Nted, on Thursday, August 25, 2016, lamented the poor state of the work
environment in the maritime industry.
Nted disclosed that due to government import policy, 20 companies have left the Nigerian borders.
He explained that Nigeria cannot
suddenly ban the importation of the main goods being generally consumed
within the country, as it is import-dependent.
He said: “Hence, the current government
policy on importation though with the best intention seems to be
wreaking more havoc on the economy and ought to be reviewed urgently.”
At a briefing the President of the Union
urged President Muhammadu Buhari to salvage the situation, so as to
prevent the industry from collapse.
He also warned that many more companies
are on the verge of leaving as well as they were only doing skeletal
services at the moment.
“Today, we lament the action of the
management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, in also planning to sack a
section of the Dockworkers, especially the Tally Clerks and Onboard
Security men in spite of their importance and relevance in the Port
operations, as it affects the re-occurring scourge of tonnage under
declaration and its negative impact on the nation’s economy.
“The leakage of revenue through under
declaration of tonnage should be seriously tackled. In this regard, we
reiterate that Tally Clerks and Onboard Security men should be allowed
to continue the critical job of uncovering and discouraging under
tonnage which is often done with the unholy collaboration of NPA,
shipping companies, agents and terminal operators.
“The Tally Clerks and onboard security
men are capable of preventing these economic crimes as they were doing
through their independent and physical tallying process.
“Over 2000 workers(Tally clerks and
onboard security men) are involved. Their reinstatement will go a long
way in reducing the number of unemployed Nigerians, and also reducing
the misery of their families,” he continued.
On behalf of the Union, Nted demanded:
“All access roads to the ports as a
matter of urgency, should be expanded and rehabilitated to handle cargo
traffic in the ports. The traditional rail operations in our seaports
should be restored to reduce the pressure on our highways and daily
fatal accidents and deaths from containers.
“Waterways should be developed for
delivery of laden containers and heavy equipment through our coastal
waters into the hinterland.
“The tank-farms which are now
dangerously located close to the ports, residential areas and along the
expressways and access roads close to the ports should be relocated far
away from the seaports to stave-off the perennial gridlocks on the
roads.
“The volume of vehicles imported into
Nigeria through Nigerian ports has collapsed to an all-time low, with
consequent loss of thousands of jobs in the maritime sector.
“The new duty regime for vehicles
introduced since 2004 and application of the new rate of exchange rate
for duty calculations have made the importation of cars and trucks into
Nigeria far too expensive. In the last two years, the number of vehicles
arriving Nigeria has shrunk by almost two thirds, while the volume of
cars smuggled through the Cotonou Border has continued to rise unabated.
“It is therefore necessary that the
Federal Government reviews its stance on the automotive policy so as not
to inflict any more suffering on the workers who are already having a
hard time with price increases every day.
“The federal government should look at making the importation of cars and trucks more competitive to enable the economy to grow.
“A significant reduction in the duties
applicable on cars and trucks will go a long way in alleviating the
challenges of our people and spur economic activities.
“Government should as a matter of
urgency adopt policies towards resuscitating the export of agricultural
produces and mineral resources that were hitherto the mainstay of the
Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. This will no doubt create
jobs in our seaports and increase revenue for the government.”
THEY WILL RETURN BACK IN DUE SEASON
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