By Ebi Kesiena
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has expressed concern over a growing wave of theft incidents at quay aprons in seaports across Lagos State.
The union’s President-General, Francis Bunu, sounded the alarm following a recent burglary aboard the vessel MV ZY JU HE at Eko Support Services in the early hours of Sunday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, Bunu described the incident as a clear indication of serious security lapses within port facilities.
According to him, reports available to the union revealed that about five tins of paint were stolen from the vessel’s aft store, along with a crew member’s mobile phone.
He noted that early findings suggest the suspects gained access to the vessel without using a ladder, while poor lighting around the paint storage area may have aided the operation by limiting visibility.
Bunu added that although security personnel on board raised an alarm by blowing whistles, the response was insufficient to scare off the intruders.
He further disclosed that the stolen items were later dumped into the sea as the suspects escaped by jumping overboard and fleeing in a speedboat after the vessel’s alarm system was activated.
The MWUN leader warned that security at quay aprons has become increasingly weak, allowing criminals to easily board vessels and steal crew belongings and maintenance materials such as paint.
He urged all security agencies operating within the nation’s seaports to step up vigilance and strengthen measures to safeguard lives and property.
Bunu specifically called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Navy to be more proactive in securing port environments.
He cautioned that failure to address the growing security concerns could harm Nigeria’s maritime industry and damage the reputation of its ports as safe and reliable for business operations.
