— THE Federal Government, weekend, expressed worry over internal security breaches by the illegal activities of some private jetty owners. It warned of severe sanction for anybody found involved in such.
Speaking at a closed door interactive meeting organised for jetty operators and owners, on-shore and offshore companies, stevedore firms and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar expressed worry over reports of rising security breaches at private jetties, adding that such reports have reached the government.
Umar also revealed that the ministry had received series of complaints from stevedoring companies alleging that they were being prevented from operating at jetties approved to them.
“In the recent past, reports of security breaches at private jetties have been received and in view of the current security challenges in the country the issue cannot be ignored” the minister stated
He warned that jetty operators are expected to restrict their activities to the approving licenses granted to them and work in collaboration with security agencies of the federal government to ensure compliance with the laws guiding their operations.
Even though newsmen were shut out of the meeting, sources hinted that jetty operators lamented that most of the stevedores assigned to them lack required competence.
Speaking after the meeting, the minister told journalist that the ministry has noted the complaints and that it is going to come up with fresh guidelines that will ensure strict compliance by all parties concerned.
Also speaking with newsmen after the meeting, President of the Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola pointed out that it is statutory that stevedore must be at the jetties.
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