FG gives IOCs May 8 deadline to engage local stevedoring firms

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation has given International Oil Companies (IOCs) May 8 deadline to allow registered stevedoring companies deploy dockworkers to work in their oil and gas platforms.

This was part of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 between the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), International Oil Companies (IOCs),  Stevedoring Operators of Nigeria and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

Others at the meeting include Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), and Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS).

In a statement issued on Saturday by Head, Media of MWUN, Comrade Kennedy Ikemefuna, the meeting was held at the instance of the Minister of Transportation, Muazu Jaji Sambo to settle the lingering disputes between the IOC’s and government appointed stevedoring companies.

The statement reads, “During the meeting, the following resolutions were reached- operationalisation of the NPA appointed stevedoring operators at the Chevron Jetty, Warri by May 2, 2023.

“Other IOCs were given up to May 8, 2023 for full operationalisation of appointed stevedores.

“The President of the Stevedoring Association of Nigeria should work on continuous capacity building for their members; and  the Ministry in conjunction with NPA should arrange a visit to some of the Jetties for an on-the-spot-assessment of the level of compliance of the IOCs and jetties operators immediately after May 8, 2023.

“These resolutions were taken by all the stakeholders in attendance with very strong penchant and conviction that these resolutions as aforementioned will be implemented to the letters as raised and signed.”