FG describes maritime workers as critical to nation’s economy 

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has stated that Maritime Workers are vital not only to the maritime industry but to  Nigeria’s economy as a whole.

The Minister stated this when the President, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, led its Executive Council on a courtesy visit to him.

He noted that his tenure is short and would require their support, advice and guidance to enable him leave legacy projects before his tenure terminates on May 29, 2023.

According to Mu’azu: “If we deliver on our promises before the end of this administration, we would have left some legacies for Nigerians. On the other hand, those we didn’t achieve will be a foundation for others to build on.”

Speaking further, the Minister informed the Union that he is part and parcel of the maritime industry, having started his public service career with the Nigerian Ports Authority,.

He acknowledged that sheer providence has brought him back to the sector, hence he has no reason to tell Nigerians that he recorded not a single achievement while at the helm of affairs in Transportation Ministry.

Speaking earlier on reasons for the visit, the President, MWUN, Comrade Adeyanju said that the courtesy visit was to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and discuss some important matters bothering the association.

He also called on the Federal Government to prioritize the dredging of Calabar, Warri and Port-Harcourt ports to forestall the flooding being being witnessed in the Lokoja axis in Kogi State.

Adeyanju further used the occasion to call on  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to speed up the process of issuance of Biometric Identity Cards to dock workers and Seafarers Identification Document (S.I.D) to Seafarers to checkmate the influx of unauthorized persons at the Ports.