In a move capable of grounding port operations at the Apapa, Tincan and surrounding ports, and also putting corresponding pressure on amenities and businesses in the Ibeju Lekki area is what can aptly be described as an impending brain drain sweeping through the maritime industry.
Sources say members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) otherwise known as Dockworkers at Tincan, Lagos Ports Complex, and other ports across the nation are at the moment besieging the Victoria Island head office of the Lekki Freeport in search of better employment opportunities at the Lekki Deep Seaport located in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos state.
The Seaport which is expected to drive massive employment in the sector when it begins operations by September of 2022 will take-off with at least 658 workers.
Findings reveal that most of those trooping to the Victoria Island head office of the facility include dockworkers, crane operators, drivers, management staff among others most of whom are known faces at terminals in Apapa and Tincan ports
Operations at the Lekki Freeport Terminal will commence with at least ten Rubber Tyre Gantry RTG, four mobile cranes and other equipment which are expected to arrive the terminal possibly before the end of June having left China.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lekki Port, Denrick Moos while confirming the development said the organization operates an open door policy for job seekers from Apapa, Tincan and other ports across the country to flood the head office of the organization in search of job placements.
According to him ‘By September, we will be 658 staff strong which is a massive employment because it is almost every week that we have new intakes.’
[…] has raised fear that import and export trade could be crippled due to difficulty in executing cargo evacuation at Lekki Port commences […]