Adeyanju Hails Oyetola On IMO Victory, Seeks Upgrade Of Maritime Academy, Welfare For Aged Seafarers
Adeyanju Hails Oyetola On IMO Victory, Seeks Upgrade Of Maritime Academy, Welfare For Aged Seafarers
Immediate past president of MWUN,and Deputy President NLC,Comrade Adewale Adeyanju
By Frank Odinukaeze
The immediate past President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju, has applauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola, for securing Nigeria’s election into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category ‘C’ Council.
In a statement issued on Monday, Adeyanju described Oyetola’s victory as a landmark achievement that has restored Nigeria’s pride in the global maritime community. He commended the minister’s “strong and radical campaign strategy,” executed through an inter-ministerial committee that, according to him, delivered a resounding success surpassing the nation’s performance in 2011 and 2019.
Adeyanju, who also serves as Vice President (Global) of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said Oyetola remains one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s best-performing ministers, adding that the minister’s efforts have repositioned Nigeria on the global maritime map.
The labour leader also praised heads of key maritime agencies—including the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); the Executive Director of the Shippers Council of Nigeria (SCN); and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola—for their synergy and commitment to achieving the IMO feat.
Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to leverage the IMO victory by upgrading the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. He noted that improving the institution would enable Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers to process key professional documents within the country rather than travelling to Ghana for seaman passports and certifications.
The MWUN Board of Trustees Chairman lamented that many Nigerian cadets and seafarers struggle to obtain necessary documents abroad, describing the situation as a persistent “Achilles heel” that government must urgently address.
Adeyanju also raised concerns over the plight of aged and retired seafarers, particularly former workers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), whose pensions and benefits have remained unpaid for years.
He warned that many of the retirees are living in severe hardship, battling illness, or dying while waiting for their entitlements despite assurances from the Ministries of Labour and Finance.
“It is heartbreaking that these senior citizens are still left in limbo. Government must expedite their payments before more lives are lost,” he said.
Seeks Return of Onboard Security and Gangway Personnel
The labour activist further drew attention to what he described as the “critical absence” of onboard security and gangway men in port operations. He argued that the removal of these personnel has led to revenue losses and security lapses within the nation’s seaports.
According to him, without gangway men monitoring vessels round the clock, cargo reporting becomes unreliable and the ports remain exposed to internal security risks.
Adeyanju called on the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, along with other regulatory agencies, to immediately reinstate onboard security gangway men on all vessels calling at Nigerian ports to ensure accurate tonnage records and strengthen maritime security.
He urged the government to act quickly on all the issues raised, insisting that Nigeria’s maritime sector can only attain global competitiveness if workers’ welfare and strategic operational systems are prioritised.
