Insecurity: Unionist admonishes FG to monitor activities of barge operators

Segun Oladipupo

In view of the increasing spate of insecurity in Nigeria, a union leader has called on the federal government to monitor the operations of barge operators so that it would not be used for sinister motives.

The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said it would be risky for government to look away from the activities of the operators owing to the fact that it could be used for evil purpose.

As a result, he called on the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure 100% physical examination of all cargoes moved through barges.

The union boss who made the call last week cautioned the Marine Police and other relevant maritime agencies to work harmoniously in policing, monitoring and inspecting cargoes on board the barge along the waterways for security reasons.

According to him, the number of barges conveying cargoes from the ports to other parts of Lagos State have significantly increased but warned that security must be paramount.

Comrade Adeyanju maintained that with the current security challenges facing the country, there was the need for the customs and Marine Police to collaborate in regulating activities of the operators.

He said, “Barge operation has been in existence for years .

It was just resuscitated because of gridlock but government should look inward in the barge operations because when you put containers on them, who examines them?

“Customs, NPA and security operatives should be on the lookout because you are giving some people privilege and they may abuse that privilege.

“They may use the barge to transfer the container to somewhere else and who examines the content of the container. So, the government should be vigilant and look at the security aspect of it,” he maintained.