A seaport worker attached to one of the service providers employed by the Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA), 40-year-old Samson Oheha, from Delta State has died after being
hit by one of the paper reels during discharging efforts on a vessel at the Five Stars
Logistics Terminal of the Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos, over the weekend.
Further findings revealed that the deceased was owed about eight months’ salary by his direct employer, one of the service providers contracted by the NPA to carry out maritime related services at the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ports like the Five Stars Logistics Terminal.
Further findings revealed that the deceased was owed about eight months’ salary by his direct employer, one of the service providers contracted by the NPA to carry out maritime related services at the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ports like the Five Stars Logistics Terminal.
When contacted on how the incident happened, the President of the Dockworkers
branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Adeyanju Adewale explained
that the reel of paper fell on the dockworker due to the waves that came from another
vessel that was passing bye.
“What happened was that the sea waves that emanated from another vessel that was going to another terminal at the Tin-Can Island Port caused the reel paper on an anchored vessel to fall on the unsuspecting dockworker while he alongside others was discharging on the anchored vessel.
“You know that anytime a vessel is berthed along the terminals at the ports and another vessel is passing or moving bye, waves from the moving vessel shake the berthed or anchored vessel, making it unstable.
“What happened was that the sea waves that emanated from another vessel that was going to another terminal at the Tin-Can Island Port caused the reel paper on an anchored vessel to fall on the unsuspecting dockworker while he alongside others was discharging on the anchored vessel.
“You know that anytime a vessel is berthed along the terminals at the ports and another vessel is passing or moving bye, waves from the moving vessel shake the berthed or anchored vessel, making it unstable.
“So while the other vessel was moving towards another spot at Tin-Can ports, the waves
from that vessel shook the anchored vessel which Oheha and others were working on,
thereby causing one of the reel papers to fall on him and he died on the spot.
“The incident happened at the Five Stars Logistics Terminal inside the Tin-Can Island ports. After his death, the terminal operator, Five Stars Logistics Limited made money available so that he can be carried to a morgue. That was after the police had come in and given us a police report.
“Immediately I got to the scene of the unfortunate incident, I ordered that the work should be stopped to give the deceased some form of respect. We were later shocked to find out that the deceased has not been paid in the last eight months.
“We are going to press for compensation to his family and ensure he receives all his dues even in death. All his insurance benefits will be paid to his family.
“We are currently looking for how to break the news to his family because we are sure they are not yet aware of the death of their suppose breadwinner. The deceased is among those tally clerks that we have been agitating for that the NPA should pay them their entitlements. He is being owed eight months salary,” Adeyanju stated.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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“The incident happened at the Five Stars Logistics Terminal inside the Tin-Can Island ports. After his death, the terminal operator, Five Stars Logistics Limited made money available so that he can be carried to a morgue. That was after the police had come in and given us a police report.
“Immediately I got to the scene of the unfortunate incident, I ordered that the work should be stopped to give the deceased some form of respect. We were later shocked to find out that the deceased has not been paid in the last eight months.
“We are going to press for compensation to his family and ensure he receives all his dues even in death. All his insurance benefits will be paid to his family.
“We are currently looking for how to break the news to his family because we are sure they are not yet aware of the death of their suppose breadwinner. The deceased is among those tally clerks that we have been agitating for that the NPA should pay them their entitlements. He is being owed eight months salary,” Adeyanju stated.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
In LagosDockworkers suspend work in port, over death of colleague
The management of the terminal failed to comply with safety standards for this kind of operation, which caused the pipes to roll off and kill the man.
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Dockworkers suspend work in Lagos port over death of colleague
(Longshoreshippingnews)
Dockworkers at the Five Star Logistics Terminal, Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos suspended work on Wednesday over the death of their colleague, Mr Paul Ifah.
The incident, which brought to two deaths of dockworkers in the terminal in less than two weeks, occurred when stacked heavy-duty pipes rolled off and killed Ifah instantly.
The late Samson Oheha, a dockworker, died in another accident earlier on Sept. 19, in the same terminal.
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Monday gave a 21-day ultimatum to terminal operators to comply with safety rules or the union would resort to picketing.
Mr Adewale Adeyanju, President of the Dockworkers’ Branch of the MWUN , confirmed the deaths to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Adeyanju alleged that the management of the terminal failed to put safety measures in place while the operations were on.
"The incident which happened at about 1:00 a.m. this morning was an eyesore and a very unprofessional way to operate.
"The management of the terminal failed to comply with safety standards for this kind of operation, which caused the pipes to roll off and kill the man.
"It is very sad because it is the same terminal where a dockworker died on Sept. 19-- and is yet to be buried,’’ he said.
Adeyanju said though the police report showed it was an accident, the situation would not have resulted to death if there were standard safety measures in place by the terminal operator.
He said the union had written many letters to all terminal operators and stevedoring companies on the need for safety.
According to him, only a few of the operators complied with safety requirements for dockworkers to carry out their duties safely.
When a NAN correspondent visited the scene of the incident, a co-worker of the deceased, on condition of anonymity, said the stacked pipes gave way and fell on the late Ifah.
"The wooden wedges used to hold the heavy pipes could not stop them as they slide down.
"Ifah could not escape immediately because he was controlling the rope,’’ he said.
The General Manager of the terminal, Capt. John John, told NAN he was not in a position to speak with the press on the incident.
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