MWUN threatens journalist

MWUN threatens journalist over 20 illegal checkpoints story

.. Accuses him of issuing COMTUA press release

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Erazua Oniha, has threatened to deal with Mr. Jerry Aguigbo, publisher, TodayNews online, accusing him of instigating a press statement circulated by the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA).

Mr. Aguigbo, just like many other journalists, did a story from the COMTUA press statement issued on Monday, where it accused MWUN of mounting 20 illegal checkpoints between Mile2 and Coconut bus stop. This is what Comrade Oniha regarded as a wrong move, thus made the threat. 

Aguigbo, who is the Secretary-General, Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), had before writing the story contacted Mr Oniha to get the union's side of the story and verbally reflected that in his report on Monday.

Oniha, later on Tuesday called and asked for the journalist's WhatsApp number to enable him despatch the union's response to the COMTUA allegations to him. This, the journalist did without wasting time.

Trouble however, started when Aguigbo tried to correct an impression in the first paragraph of the response, which attributed the COMTUA press statement to him and his medium, pointing out to Oniha that he merely reported the story and never issued the release.

Here is MWUN response to COMTUA: "The attention of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has been drawn to a press release making the rounds released by an online media, "TodayNews" anchored by one Jerry Aguigbo published January 16, 2023: targeting the personage of the President General and other union officials while alleging MWUN involvement in activities outside its jurisdictional scope and membership composition..."

When the journalist tried to let him realise that he never issued the release as their response indicated, Oniha flared up, commanding him to use the rejoinder verbatim as signed by the Secretary General, Comrade Felix S. Akingboye like that

He threatened that the journalist would "see the other side of me" if he failed to do what he had ordered him to do.

And it could be recalled that many journalists did the COMTUA story even without any recourse to MWUN but Aguigbo expressly reflected the union's reaction, as stated by Oniha in a telephone conversation, in his own report.

MWUN, COMTUA Brawl...

 MWUN, COMTUA Brawl Over Extortion fee of N2000 at 20 illegal Checkpoints

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA) have exchanged words over allegations put forward by the latter on the extortion imposed on its members regarding the manned twenty (20) illegal checkpoints from Coconut to TinCan Port second gate where #2, 000 is forcefully collected from truckers per check point. 

Mr. Erazu Oniha, MWUN Public Relations Officer (PRO), argued that the allegation does not hold a water as the move was deliberately meant to tarnish MWUN image since it pulled out of COMTUA. 

Oniha degrade COMTUA, ascribing the union as a brainchild of all Maritime Unions; a child of necessity which was to mitigate the problems bedeviling the Unions and its members but went against the tenets it was created for. 

It could be recalled that the National President of COMTUA, prince Adeyinka Aroyewun had on Monday accused MWUN of not reciprocating positively to the  letters of complaint and consultation sent by COMTUA to parks and Garage Committees, Park Administration Committee and MWUN, notifying them of the illegal activities taken place at this point. 

Instead of approaching the matter in a civilized way, Aroyewun said the other party (MWUN) resulted to a provocative affront. "They rather connived with government agencies to extort our MEMBERS the more."

Aroyewun lamented that MWUN operates 20 checkpoints from Coconut to Tin-Can Port Second gate where N2,000 is forcefully collected per point from our members. 

According to him, “The Coconut to Tin-Can Port Second gate is under the watch of MWUN president General Comrade Adewale Adeyanju whose main coordinator is Taofeek Shorinola fondly called Sheu Tao. They injured and sometimes kill our members for non-compliance to the extortion. Parks and Garages have Abayomi Abeyi Ajele fondly called Ikomodina, Michael Adewale often referred as Hot water and Raji-student mount. They are all in charge of the check points between Mile 2 and Sunrise where the amount between N2,000 and N6,000 are forcefully collected per point from our members. Also, the likes of Chiboy and Adeleke collect money from truckers around Kirikiri, FATGBEMS, Badagry Express Road and inside Amuwo Odofin,” he said. 

But in response to all these allegations, Oniha declared COMTUA allegations are. Frivolous, explaining that “COMTUA wrote us to say that our haulage branch is mounting illegal road blocks, we discovered that this was completely false. Yes our constitution permits the haulage branch to ticket trucks within zones inside the ports but anything outside the ports is not from our members, so it's false.”

Oniha maintained that COMTUA's accusation of treating their letter with disdain is untrue. 

He said, "They wrote us and copied the Commissioner of Police Maritime, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and we responded appropriately to all these.” 

On the accusation of collaborating with the newly formed Lagos Parks and Garages Committee, Oniha disclosed that MWUN is at war with afore mentioned group. 

To him, “They attacked, maimed and killed 4 of our members at Tin can Port for which after settlement they were asked to pay compensation to the victims, including burying those who were killed, another attack by the same group also reoccurred recently, how can we now collaborate with them? This matter is in the public domain because the Customs Service, Tincan island Command wrote them. So as you can see their claims are frivolous and this is coming up because we left COMTUA," Comrade Oniha stated.

SAHCO Bags Accuracy and Precision Excellence Award 

ZAINAB JUNAID. 

As part of its relentless pursuit of accuracy and precision in cargo operational services at all levels, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), has again bagged the Accuracy and Precision Excellence award at the 2022 Accuracy and Precision Excellence award Dinner held recently in Lagos. 

The APE Award was conferred on SAHCO by AVOLAD Engineering Nigeria Limited, an Indigenous Engineering Company that specializes in cargo/baggage weighing equipment used for weighing Cargo bulks needed to provide load control with the accurate measurement of the pallets loaded on the aircraft and for determining the cost of the cargo for import and export. 

Speaking on the award, AVOLAD’s General Manager, Adebayo Oluyamo said the nomination of Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) for the 2022 award was based on SAHCO’s relentless pursuit of accuracy and precision in cargo operational services at all times.

Oluyamo  explained that careful consultations were made during  the screening process and the committee approved the conferment on SAHCO based on sterling performance and exceptional contributions towards proper maintenance and calibration of SAHCO weighing equipment, development of standard accuracy and precision procedures in operational services thereby maintaining world standards in offering cargo services.

However, the Managing Director/ CEO of SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi in appreciation mood, thanked the organizers for recognizing SAHCO, adding that the award will encourages the company to deliver at its best. 

Basil reiterated that his company which recently got its  ISO 900:2015 Certification, was known for adhering strictly to International Standards in everything it engages in and always provide excellent services to its numerous customers using its world class Ground Support Equipment 

Spokesperson for SAHCO, Mrs Uansohia Vanessa Adetola in a statement also said “SAHCO, a Public Liability Company that keeps raising the bar in the Aviation Ground Handling industry deserves the award as it’s building and maintaining a fleet of ultra-modern ground handling equipment that are fitted with the latest technological innovations. The company also has well-trained customer-centric staff with presence in all the commercially operated airports in Nigeria and ultra- modern warehouses with massive cold rooms and freezers. 

“SAHCO is involved in Passenger Handling services, Ramp Handling services, Cargo Handling services and Warehousing, Aviation Security services, VIP lounge services and other Aviation related services by delivering quality services that is always aimed at exceeding customers’ expectations,” she said.