NLC strike paralyses port operations - as armed policemen barricade port gates.

Activities at the Lagos ports complex were grounded on Monday following the commencement of the industrial action embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Apparently in deference to the directive of the Labour Union which called out all its affiliate members to down tools in protest against the Federal Government alleged indifference to their request on minimum wage, import and export activities at all the terminals in Apapa and Tin Can Island Port were suspended.

Investigations by nigeriamaritime360.com revealed that trucks laden with containers were disallowed to exit the ports while those outside were refused entry as the major entrance to the two largest ports in Nigeria were barricaded by armed policemen.

Our correspondent gathered that activities at the terminals were also affected as most of the workers, under the aegis of maritime workers union, are affiliated to the NLC.

Anxious Customs brokers who besieged the ports this morning, apparently to take delivery of their cargo or to complete the cargo clearance process for eventual release were denied entry into the port

They all dispersed in disappointment after all entreaties to the policemen were not heeded.The same scenario was recorded at the shipping companies where activities were grounded.

Even though, the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service were seen at their duty posts, they were largely redundant since they could not treat any entry nor effect release of any consignment as a result of lack of activities at the terminals.

To compound the situation, banks where Customs duties are paid by freight forwarders to effect cargo delivery are under lock and key.

At the Marina Headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), hostile labour leaders barricaded the entrance into the huge complex, preventing staff and customers access

At the Burma Road Headquarters of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) , Apapa, workers were allowed entry but they were redundant.

It was also discovered that majority of NIMASA staff who reported for duties Monday are mostly in the junior cadre while majority of middle and management staff were obviously observing the strike action.

Haruna Euphraim, the public relations officer of Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service told our correspondent that the officers were at their duty post but could not do anything in the face of inactivity at the terminals.

According to him, SAHCOL, owned and operated by SIFAX GROUP, an indeginous operator, was operating a skeletal services while NAHCO was shut.

Nkiru Nwala and Uche Ejesieme, the public relations officers of Apapa and Tincan Island Ports respectively could not be reached for comments.