- A dockworker, Kazeem Adeshina, died in an industrial accident on December 25, 2024, at Berth 9, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
- The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has declared a state of emergency over the non-provision of safety materials and lack of safety personnel.
- Labour leaders are holding marathon meetings to address hazardous working conditions in seaports, terminals, jetties, and oil platforms.
Panic has gripped port operators following the Christmas Day death of a dockworker, Kazeem Adeshina, at Berth 9, Tincan Island Port, Lagos. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has responded by declaring a state of emergency over the non-provision of safety materials, lack of safety personnel, and absence of safety protocols by stevedores employed by terminal operators.
The MWUN has expressed concerns about alleged unsafe conditions in the maritime sector, particularly at the country’s seaports and oil platforms. Deputy Secretary General of MWUN, Oniha Erazua, stated that the negligence of safety standards and protocols has led to an unacceptable number of avoidable deaths and permanent injuries among dockworkers.
Erazua emphasized that the lack of compliance with basic safety protocols jeopardizes the lives of workers and threatens the efficiency and sustainability of the maritime industry. The MWUN has condemned the disregard for worker safety and called for immediate action, warning that failure to enforce safety standards would result in the withdrawal of services by its members across all port activities nationwide.
