Apapa Gridlock: Beyond MWUN, APMT  War of Words

The war of attrition between maritime workers and one of Nigeria’s foremost terminal operators and a subsidiary of Danish logistics giant, APM Terminals Apapa Limited (APMT) seem endless as they continue to trade words on the cause of the gridlock in Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa, Lagos.

The workers under the auspices of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have not ceased to use every avenue to say that APMT was the main cause of the traffic gridlock in the port city as it has no space to accommodate empty containers in its facility thereby making the various articulated vehicles to use the port access roads as a parking lot.

Already, the MWUN which remains the umbrella body for maritime workers in the country reason had issued APMT a 14-deadline to evacuate all empty containers belonging to it, many of which have been abandoned on various port access roads in Apapa, thus worsening the traffic situation in the area.

It stated that the concessionaire of Africa’s largest container terminal which handles more than 50 per cent of the container traffic into the country is a key contributor to the recurrent traffic in the port city.

Giving an insight into its action, MWUN Deputy Secretary General, Comrade Edwin Sambo, in a statement said that the ultimatum has become necessary to compel APMT to urgently remove all empty containers belonging to it that have been abandoned on the roads, thereby contributing significantly to the gridlock in the area.

It warned that it will take a drastic action against the company if the empty containers were not removed by the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum.

The MWUN stated that the decision of the company to abandon these empty containers, which litter every part of the port city constitute a major hindrance to movement in and out of the ports, as these empty containers inhibit truck and other vehicular traffic around the ports.

Its words: “In view of all these hiccups caused by the abandoned empty containers, the management of APM Terminals is hereby given a 14-day notice from the date of the letter to put all necessary arrangements in motion to ensure that the blockage caused by the empty containers is totally cleared for business and other port-related activities to go on at the ports unhindered.

“The security of lives and property in and around the environment has deteriorated so much that rape and brigandage have become the order of the day because of this and the union cannot continue to sit and watch while the situation goes out of hand.

You can agree with me that workers, port users and the general public are at the receiving end, as many of them trek very long distances for hours before accessing the ports and other workplaces. Please be informed that the union will not be held liable for whatever action we might deem fit to take in the event of your refusal to get your empty containers off the road”.

MWUN maintained that the blockage was against the objectives of the Executive Order introduced by the federal government at the ports.

Apparently not pleased with the ultimatum, APMT said it was not responsible for the gridlock in the port city and could not be held liable for the traffic snarl in Apapa.

Its General Manager Communications, Mr. Augustine Fischer stated that like other stakeholders, it is a victim of the menace of the Apapa gridlock and not in any way the cause.

Beyond the war of words between MWUN and APMT however is a culture of lies, deceit and dearth of the political will to do the right thing that will maximise the huge potentials in the maritime industry.   That has been the lot of the maritime industry over the years and until there is a shift in the present narratives, Nigeria, nay Nigerians will continue to hold the short end of the stick in the global shipping world.

For instance, the attempt to shift blames instead of taking responsibility for its role in contributing to the gridlock in Apapa was not reflected in the statement issued by the terminal operator. It failed to address the issue of absence of space for its customers which now resort to the use of the port access roads as parking lot thereby contributing in no small measure to the recurrent gridlock in Apapa. When key players continue to be economical with the truth, it will be mirage to take the maritime industry to where it ought to be.

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