AFRICA

Nigeria union calls off access road strike

9 years ago

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has relented on its threat to go on an indefinite strike that could have closed the countrys main seaports.

MWUN has relented on its threat to go on an indefinite strike that could have closed the country's main seaports Photo: Clara Sanchiz/flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

According to South African online news publication News24, MWUN president-general Adawale Adeyanju told AFP that the move was suspended following a meeting with the Nigeria Port Authority and the country’s labour minister, where “strong commitments to fix the roads were given”, according to Mr Adeyanju.

The president-general said that after the “fruitful deliberations” with the government, the MWUN had therefore chosen to put the strike on hold.

“We are calling on our members to continue with their work,” he added.

The Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island handle over 60% of Nigeria’s sea cargo and create some 70% of customs revenue, but the poor condition of access roads and chronic gridlock has increasingly been responsible for delays.

This has made shipping companies and businesses use other berths in neighbouring nations, while the MWUN claims that port workers and users stuck in traffic have also become more vulnerable to criminal gang-attack.